PREFACE xi 



tropical agriculture. We, as a nation, need to know more 

 of the Tropics, of the opportunities they offer and of their 

 great commercial importance. We need to know more of 

 the stupendous racial and economic problems involved in 

 the further development of tropical agriculture. We need 

 especially to know more of our Latin American neighbors. 

 If this book serves to some degree in focusing the earnest 

 attention of the American reader upon the wonderful possi- 

 bilities of the Tropics, it will have fulfilled its purpose. 



During the preparation of the volume I received many 

 helpful suggestions from Dr. E. W. Allen, Dr. W. H. 

 Evans, and Mr. E. J. Glasson, all of the Office of Experi- 

 ment Stations. The proofs were read by Mrs. Mabel R. 

 Wilcox. In the selection of illustrations most courteous 

 assistance was received from Mr. David Fairchild, in charge 

 of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture, who has perhaps done more than any other 

 man in the United States in stimulating a general interest 

 in tropical agricultural products. 



E. V. Wilcox. 



Washington, D. C. 



