UNITS OF MEASURE. 139 



The measurements of weight and capacity are those formerly used 

 in the Philippines. They are gradually being replaced by the metric 

 system. I am indebted to Mr. Louis A. Fischer, of the United States 

 Bureau of Standards, for correcting the following tables. 



Linear measure. 



1 braza = 1.672 meters = 2 varas =65.82 inches. 

 1 vara =836.00 millimeters = 3 pies =32.9 inches. 

 1 pie =278.70 millimeters=12 pulgadas=10.97 inches. 

 1 pulgada= 23.22 millimeters=12 lfneas = .91 inch. 



Measures of capacity. 



DRY MEASURE. 



1 kaban or cavan= 25 gantas =99.90 liters=2.75U. S. bushels=ll pecks. 

 1 ganta = 8 chupas = 3.99 liters= .44 U. S. peck = 3.52 quarts. 



1 chupa = 4 apatanes= .499 liter = .44 U.S. quart = .88 pint. 



Liquid measure. 



1 tinaha=16 gantas =63.84 liters=14.02 gallons. 

 1 ganta = 8 chupas= 3.99 liters= 3.52 quarts. 

 1 chupa = 3 copas = .499 liter = .88 pint. 



Measures of weight. 



1 quintal = 4 arrobas =46.012 kilograms=101.44 pounds. 



1 arroba =25 libras =11.503 kilograms= 25.36 pounds. 



1 libra = 2 marcos = .460 kilogram = 16.23 ounces. 



1 marco = 8 onzas = .230 kilogram = 8.12 ounces. 



1 onza =16 adarmes =28.758 grams = 1.02 ounces. 



1 picul =10 chinantas=62.550 kilograms =137. 9 pounds. 



1 chinanta=10 cates = 6.255 kilograms= 13.79 pounds. 



1 catty =16 taels = .626 kilogram = 1.38 pounds. 



1 tael = =39.094 grams = 1.38 ounces. 



A kaban of cacao weighs 38.6 kilograms. 

 A kaban of rice weighs 60.272 kilograms. 



AGRICULTURE OF THE ISLAND. 



SOILS. a 



The strand. — The beaches are composed of fine coral sand and are 

 especially well adapted to coconut plantations. Specimens of this 

 soil examined by the Bureau of Soils, United States Department of 

 Agriculture, were found to contain considerable organic matter, though 

 not of such a nature as to be readily decomposed, and for this reason 

 it might be well to apply manure to it. Considerable organic matter 

 is constantly being added to the stretches of beach in the form of 

 decaying vegetation and animal matter from fragments of fresh coral 

 and shellfish cast up by the sea and dispersed by the wind. From 

 prehistoric times extensive coconut groves have been continuously 

 growing along the west coast of the island without apparent exhaus- 

 ts I am indebted to Mr. Milton Whitney, chief of the Bureau of Soils, for much of 

 the following information. 



