AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 9 



Third-class pasture lands are those along the coast and lime hills, where grow 

 only brush, "rat-tail," sweet grass, etc. 



First-class minor-produce lands are valley lands. 



Second-class minor-produce lands are highlands. 



Third-class minor-produce lands are sandy and limy lands. 



First-class forest lands are those growing virgin forest whose timber can supply 

 building and cabinet woods, e. g., "aceitillo," "cedar,"' "capa,"' "ausubo," etc. 



Second-class forest lands are lands with a rocky and calcareous soil growing 

 only bushes available for fuel. 



Renewal of Soil. 



While the soils of Porto Rico retain their fertility to a remarkable 

 extent, they have deteriorated, in a measure imder the effects of con- 

 stant cropping without the use of manure. Like most tropical soils, 

 they are deflcient in humus, and this is particularly noticeable in old 

 fields "turned out to rest." The Porto Ricans say that the land is 

 "tired." It is further noticeable in the fact that the soil is too adhe- 

 sive in wet periods, and too dry, with a tendency to "bake," in dry 

 weather. That there is no deficiency of elements in the soil is shown 

 by the large grass crops these old fields will prodiice. Cowpeas, velvet 

 beans, and other renovating crops have enormously vigorous g:fowth 

 and furnish a ready means of supplying humus. In all parts of the 

 island are caves with vast quantities of bat guano, which is a cheap 

 and ready source of nitrogen. The large number of cattle and horses 

 furnish considerable manure, easily obtained, because many cattle are 

 herded on account of the absence of fences. 



Rivers and Drainage. 



Few countries are better drained than Porto Rico. It is claimed 

 that there are over 1,200 streams in the island, of which 50 are rivers 

 of considerable size. Springs are abundant in the mountain district 

 and the water is pure. 



There are several mineral springs of value, such as the sulphur 

 baths near Ponce, the mineral springs near Coamo and at San Sebas- 

 tian and San Lorenzo, and the hot springs of Caguitas. 



Forestry. 



One of the most serious obstacles confronting the agriculturist in 

 Porto Rico is the scarcity of timber and wood. There is practically 

 no accessible building timber. Occasionally a small log is brought 

 from the interior at great expense and sawed into boards bj^ hand. 

 There is not a power sawmill in the interior of the island. There are 

 a few sawmills in the coast cities, mainly for sawing imported tim- 

 ber. At Mayaguez one of these mills had a small stock of native logs. 

 They were from 6 to 12 inches in diameter and 8 to 12 feet long, 

 crooked and knotty. The mill had a stock of four or five thousand feet 

 of native lumber, in which were a few tropical cedar boards, short 

 but of superior quality. 



The principal lumber sold in the coast cities is hard pine, which 

 retails at $30 to $60 per 1,000, depending upon the quality. This 

 scarcity of timber accounts for many things. It renders it almost 

 impossible to erect or maintain creditable farm buildings in the inte- 

 rior, especially where there are no good roads. Ifcrenders itnecessaryto 

 construct the cottages of the laborers of bark and poles. It precludes 

 the fencing of the farms into suitable fields for keeping the variety of 



