Farming on the Isthmus of Panama 



2 33 



ing 28 stations intervening: "Cristobal, 

 Mount Hope, Mindi, Gatun, Lion Hill, 

 Ahorca Lagarto, Bohio, Frijoles, Taber- 

 nilla, Barbacocas, Empire, Culebra, Rio 

 Grande Superior, Cucaracha, San Pablo, 

 Bailamonos, Mamei, Gorgona, Matachin, 

 Bas Obispo, Las Cascadas, Paraiso, 

 Pedro Miguel Junction, Pedro Miguel 

 Tank, Mira Flores, Corozal, La Boca 

 Junction." Some of these stations, like 

 those along railroads in the States, con- 

 sist of a house or two, while others are 

 respectable little villages. 



Then the base of supplies need not 

 be "2,000 miles distant from Panama." 

 If we move "the base of supplies" from 

 New York city to Mobile, New Orleans, 

 or Galveston, we bring it 600 miles, or 

 from one and a half to two days by 

 steamer, nearer Panama. But as we are 

 moving, let us keep on and move it all the 

 way to Panama. Why? 



The soil of the Isthmus is the best in 

 the world and, in conjunction with 

 climatic conditions, produces fine fruits, 

 vegetables, and cereals, with perpetual 

 pasturage for cattle and fowl. Every 

 kind of vegetable grown in the United 

 States except celery and asparagus does 

 well. They can be planted in succession, 

 so that there will be a perpetual supply, 

 the quantity that can be raised depending 

 only on the amount planted and culti- 

 vated. Of fruits, the pineapple and 

 banana mature in one year from the time 

 of planting ; oranges and cocoanuts, in 

 eight years, although both begin bearing 

 before that time. Figs, I think, can be 

 successfully introduced and will vield 

 well. 



Rice and corn yield fair crops, and 

 doubtless the quality and quantity per 

 acre could be increased by cultivation 

 and selection of seed. It is usual to raise 

 three crops of corn on the same ground 

 during one year, and although the soil is 

 absolutely uncultivated, excellent corn is 

 harvested. The method of raising corn 

 is to cut down the forest that covers the 

 ground ; then, as soon as it is dry enough 

 to burn, to set fire to it. This fire heats 

 the surface of the soil and kills the seed 



of weeds therein. The next morning the 

 corn is planted, The soil is so loose that 

 the first man just makes a little hole with 

 the point of his machete. The next man 

 drops in the grains of corn, and the man 

 behind covers the grains with his toe. 

 They don't know anything about "the 

 man with the hoe." The corn of course 

 gets the start of the weeds, deeper down, 

 so that later the weeds are handicapped 

 in their growth by the shade of the corn. 

 As can be seen from the picture, the re- 

 sults, without any cultivation whatsoever, 

 equal those obtained only by good culti- 

 vation in many places in the States. 



The picture of the orange tree shows 

 that these trees will grow and bear fruit 

 even under adverse conditions. The his- 

 tory of this particular tree is that six 

 years ago, in eating an orange in his 

 garden, Mr Alfredo Aleman threw the 

 seeds over the fence. Shortly afterwards 

 he noticed that one of these seeds had 

 lodged in the crevice of a rock and was 

 growing. So he determined to let it 

 alone. It continued to grow, and, as can 

 be seen, the roots have covered the rock, 

 finding their way into the fertile soil, so 

 that it is laden with fruit. 



The land between Colon and Panama 

 is not sandy, stony, or mountainous. Only 

 shallow blue valleys sentineled by low, 

 verdant hills. Everywhere the soil is fer- 

 tile as a garden, producing abundantly 

 when merely tickled. American truck 

 gardeners could produce an abundance of 

 all the fruits and vegetables that would 

 be needed, no difference how great the 

 number of the employed might be. 

 Where the virgin forest has been cut 

 away and the soil tilled, there is no 

 malaria, fevers, or mosquitoes. These 

 results follow in the tropics just as they 

 do like work in Kansas, Missouri, or any- 

 where else. Cattle and fowls do well. 

 There is an abundance of fish of the very 

 best kinds in the waters on both sides of 

 the Isthmus. In fact, "Panama," is an 

 Indian word meaning "Abundance of 

 Fish." 



While it is true that "the natives never 

 look beyond their present necessities" 



