Cultivation in Panama 1 1 7 



fitable around Panama, and many men have 

 made fortunes out of the trade. After bananas 

 it is one of the most promising industries to- 

 day. The rearing and fattening of cattle is 

 further to be recommended, because guinea, 

 para, and other fattening grasses on which 

 the cattle can graze and fatten, may be 

 planted between the coco-nuts, once the palms 

 are sufficiently high to prevent them being 

 harmed. This is, we understand, a favourite 

 method in Ceylon, where there are some 

 ninety million coco-nut palms in bearing. 

 Round Panama poultry and eggs are also 

 selling at very high prices, such as 70 cents 

 to $i for fowls, and 50 cents to 60 cents 

 per dozen for eggs. Even at these prices 

 the demand seems endless. 1 With the poonac 

 available for local or inter-State supplies, pigs 

 could also be raised at a good profit. As regards 

 cattle, it seems possible to buy lean animals in 

 the interior at about $20 each, which in about 

 ten months' time, with the feed obtainable on a 

 well-managed estate, should be saleable around 

 Panama at $35 to $40 ; whilst the consumption, 

 already beyond the supply, -is, in common with 

 all foodstuffs, expected to greatly increase when 

 the Canal is opened, and the resultant trade 



1 This must be owing to the Canal officials. Although 

 the price of poultry and eggs does run high in the West 

 Indies, such rates as above cannot be relied on to 

 last. The Costa Rica Bulletin was recommending the 

 rearing of pheasants and chickens on the estates, not 

 only for food, but as insect destroyers. 



