20 



AGBICULTTTEAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF POETO BICO. 



This table sHows that the tobacco industry had been on the decline 

 for nearly a decade. In 1897 it showed sudden increase, due doubt- 

 less to the condition of the sugar and coffee industries. 



Minor Crops. 



Corn, rice, beans, potatoes, bananas, peanuts, citrus fruits, pine- 

 apples, cocoanuts, vegetables, etc., are classed as minor crops. 

 According to records, 93,511 acres are assessed as devoted to these 

 products, the chief of which is corn. 



CORN. 



The climate, rainfall, and soil of Porto Rico indicate, upon the 

 whole, a good country for corn. Farmers report a crop of 60 bushels 

 upon virgin land of good quality and 20 to 25 bushels on old land. 

 This is equal to the average crop in the corn belt of the United States. 

 A further evidence of the corn-producing capacity of Porto Rico is 

 shown by the exports. In 1897 Porto Rico exported to Cuba 4,246,776 

 pounds of corn and 7,946 pounds of corn meal, and to Spain 30,133 

 pounds of corn. No corn was imported that year, thus showing that 

 Porto Rico produced more than sufiiGient for home consumption. It 

 should also be taken into account that the interior of the island could 

 furnish no portion of this surplus, because, with the exception of one 

 military road, there were no roads in the interior on which it could be 

 transported to the coast. With a better knowledge of the corn plant 

 and the conditions requisite for its best yield we may expect large 

 corn products in Porto Rico. 



RICE. 



In former years Porto Rico produced considerable rice, and the 

 only reason why it might not again is that there is very little level 

 land easily flooded except near the coast, and this can be more prof- 

 itably devoted to sugar cane. On the mountain summits, where 

 there is a surplus of rain during the rainy season, small fields are 

 raised without flooding. Here, however, the mole cricket ( Gryllotalpa) 

 attacks it and does considerable damage. It is probable that Porto 

 Rico will continue to import the rice required by her people. The 

 advance in rice at this time came inopportunely for Porto Rico, but 

 it has increased the consumption of flour and corn meal. The annual 

 importation of rice into Porto Rico will be seen from the following 

 statistics : 



Imports of rice. Pounds. 



1894... -- 72,674,540 



1895 - ..-- 74,145,046 



1896 _ 70,763,249 



1897 , 77,994,132 



This is an average of over 73 pounds per capita. 



BEANS, SWEET POTATOES, AND BANANAS. 



Beans are planted on farms for home consumption. The quality 

 and yield are good. I was unable to obtain any data showing the 

 amounts produced annually, but from the crops observed the supply 

 appeared entirely inadequate to the necessities of the people. The 

 nutritious sweet potato flourishes in all portions of the island, but, 

 like beans, the supply produced for home consumption is less than it 



