FOREIGN TRADE IN FARM AND FOREST PRODUCTS. 49 



$20,000, which increased to nearly $4,000,000 in 1914. Portugal and 

 Spain have supplied about 85 per cent since 1910. The vegetable 

 ivory or tagua nuts came from Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama and 

 amounted to 27,135,406 pounds, valued at $881,354, in 1914. 



The imports of natural palm leaf were valued at $14,044 in 1914, 

 and the exports of moss were valued at $51,006. The exports of 

 wood alcohol in 1914 were 1,598,776 gallons, valued at $652,486, of 

 which 90 per cent went to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, 

 and Germany. 



REEXPORTS. 



" Foreign exports," or reexports, comprise those articles of foreign 

 origin imported into this country which are subsequently exported 

 without change in their form. 



Farm products. — During the 14-year period from June 30, 1901, 

 to June 30, 1914, reexports of farm products averaged 12-J million 

 dollars yearly, ranging from 9^ millions in 1909 to 17f millions in 

 1914. In percentage they represent 43 per cent of total foreign ex- 

 ports, 2.1 per cent of total agricultural imports, and 1.3 per cent of 

 domestic agricultural exports. 



Coffee, tobacco, hides and skins, and bananas, named in the order 

 of their importance, were the chief articles of reexport for the period 

 named, each averaging over 1 million dollars a year. Coffee averaged 

 20,675,000 pounds annually, valued at $1,854,000; tobacco, 2,790,000 

 pounds, valued at $1,413,000; hides and skins, 6,334,000 pounds, val- 

 ued at $1,333,000; and bananas, $1,280,000. The quantity of ba- 

 nanas is not given prior to 1908. 



In 1914 bananas held first place, followed by tobacco, hides and 

 skins, and coffee. Reexports of bananas amounted to 2,255,000 

 bunches, valued at $2,437,000; tobacco, 2,621,000 pounds, valued at 

 $1,538,000; hides and skins, 6,426,000 pounds, valued at $1,408,000. 



Forest products. — Exports of foreign forest products for the 14 

 years averaged 5^ million dollars annually. They were lowest in 

 1903, at $2,865,000, and highest in 1910, when they reached $9,802,000. 

 In percentage they amounted to 17.8 per cent of the total foreign 

 exports, 4.5 per cent of the total forest products imported, and 4.7 

 per cent of domestic forest products exported. 



India rubber was the chief article of reexport for the 14-year 

 period, averaging 4,262,000 pounds annually, valued at $3,559,000, 

 and ranging from 2,912,000 pounds in 1903 to 6,493,000 pounds 

 in 1910. 



Chicle, the basis of chewing gum, was next in importance, reexports 

 averaging 1,875,000 pounds, valued at $481,000. There were violent 

 fluctuations in the reexports of this product. Thus the year in which 



