24 ageicultukal eesources, etc, of poeto eico. 



Stock Raising. 



Five conditions are requisite to make an excellent stock country: 

 (1) Abundant grasses, of superior quality, and pasturage as nearly 

 continuous as possible. 



(2^ Pure and abundant water. 

 (3^ Equable climate. 



(4) Freedom from annoying insects. 



(5) Good markets. 



Porto Rico possesses all of these advantages in an eminent degree. 

 As a grass-producing country it is unsurpassed. Its hills are covered 

 with grama grass, corresponding for pasture to the mesquite grass 

 and the buffalo grass of the United States. The cultivated grasses, 

 guinea ^rass {Panicum maximum) and malojilla, are very nutritious, 

 and produce a large amount of forage per acre. Dr. Don Augustin 

 Stahl states that 50 square meters of these gra.sses will sustain an ox 

 or a horse, which would be equal to 81 horses or oxen per acre. This 

 could scarcely hold good for the entire year. Twelve animals are 

 probably nearer the average. Authentic cases are given where land 

 set in guinea grass has produced 130 tons of green fodder per acre, 

 equal to 32.5 tons of hay. Cattle and horses in the working season 

 rai-ely receive any other food than these grasses, cut and fed in a 

 manger under shelter. 



The creeks and rivers have sufficient current to keep the water pure, 

 and springs are plentiful in the mountains. The weather is always 

 cool, mornings and evenings, when the stock is grazing. Flies and 

 mosquitoes are about the same as in the higher portions of the South- 

 ern States. Cuba and St. Thomas take all surplus stock at good 

 prices. The horses are the exact type of those descended from Span- 

 ish stock in the prairie sections of Louisiana, very small but full of 

 energy. The foundation was evidently of the best Arabian stock, but 

 now greatly deteriorated. 



The cattle are also of Spanish stock, but have been crossed more or 

 less with Senegambian males, adding something to the size and fat- 

 tening properties, but reducing their value for milk. 



Some sheep are kept, but the industry has not been a great success. 

 There is too much rain in the highlands. Goats are common in all 

 parts of the island, and with a better stock might be made the basis of 

 an industry of much profit. 



Comparatively few swine are raised. Possibly the absence of fences 

 is the cause. With small fields of cassava, sweet potatoes, peanuts, 

 and sorghum it ought to be possible to raise hogs at a nominal cost, 

 and the market is excellent. 



The small amount of poultry kept is a perpetual surprise. One may 

 travel for miles in the country without finding a good flock of chickens. 

 Most of those raised are inferior in size and quality. The eggs are 

 small and lack in flavor, but the price is large enough — 36 cents per 

 dozen. Chickens sell at 40 to 75 cents each. Investigations show 

 that there is little reason why chickens should not be produced in 

 great abundance. 



Farm Wages. 



The usual hours of work in the field are from 6 to 6. A majority of 

 the field hands commence work in the morning without having eaten 

 anything. A few take early coffee. At 11 o'clock half an hour is 

 given for breakfast. Breakfast consists of rice and beans, bread and 



