FORESTS OF PORTO RICO. 9 



record in 1901 of 169 inches. There are two other well-defined areas 

 where the average annual rainfall exceeds 100 inches, namely, the 

 peaks about Adjuntas and the mountains surrounding Las Marias and 

 Maricao, San Sebastian, and Lares, in the central and west-central 

 portions, respectively, of the Cordillera Central. These centers of 

 heavy precipitation are likewise centers of heavy f orestation. Except 

 for the LuquiUos, the forests are artificial ones, being largely <;offee 

 plantations, yet their influence on climate is in all respects similar. 



While abundant rain and the absence of protracted droughts char- 

 acterize conditions on the north side of 'the island, the reverse obtains 

 to the south, where several months may elapse with little or no rain. 

 Here precipitation is not only scanty but unevenly distributed through- 

 out the year. The average annual rainfall for the stations along and 

 near the south coast is 45 inches. The minimum average annual 

 rainfall of 37 inches is recorded at Guanica, while 21 inches in 1907 is 

 the absolute recorded minimum of recent years. 



The rainfall on the whole island increases from 11 inches in the 

 winter months (February being the lightest) to 16 inches during the 

 spring, 23 inches during the summer, and 26 inches during the faU. 

 The maximum generally occurs in September on the east coast, in 

 October along the south coast, and in November along the north coast. 

 The rainfall is largely in the form of showers, which, although fre- 

 quently very heavy, seldom last over 10 or 12 minutes. Rain for a 

 day or more at a time is comparatively rare. 



Rain falls practically every day in the year over some portion of 

 the island, except possibly a few days in February. For the island as 

 a whole the average number of days in a year with rain is 169, the 

 minimum and maximum frequency are 28 at Guanica on the south 

 coast in 1907 and 341 in the Sierra de Luquillo in. 1900, respectively. 

 The average humidity for the island is about 78 per cent, the minimum 

 in the driest month, 75 per cent, and the maximum in the most humid, 

 81 per cent. 



LAND DISTRIBUTION, UTILIZATION, AND TAXATION. 



Land Distribution. 



The land policy of Spain appears to have been conceived in a spirit 

 of great liberality. It not only provided for the usual extensive 

 grants to the grandee and to the soldier of fortune, but also offered 

 encouragement to the bona fide settler of small means. The first law,^ 

 promidgated by Ferdinand V under date of June 18, 1513, a scant 

 20 years after the discovery of America, granted settlers free title to 

 holdings of something in excess of 170 acres, upon compliance with 



i"Law First" (See Recapitulation de Leyes de los Reinos de las Indias, Book 4th, Title 12th). 

 Translation by Bureau of Insular Aflairs, War Department. 



