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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Publishers' Photo Service 



GROWING HEMP IN THE) ACONCAGUA VAIyly^Y 



While not one of the leading products, hemp is successfully grown in Chile. Last season 

 2,700 tons of hemp fiber were produced and an equal amount of seed. This seed is a favorite 

 food for poultry and cage-birds. In 1832 the Chilean Government offered, as an inducement 

 to all who would plant hemp, an exemption from taxation for ten years. 



structed; but the roads on the frontier 

 are so bad for many months of the year 

 that an American friend of mine, whose 

 husband has a cattle ranch and lumber 

 camp in the mountains, is actually ma- 

 rooned during the long wet season. Be- 

 cause of the mud, people south of the 

 Bio-Bio wear wooden clogs over their 

 boots, as we wear rubbers. 



But rain or no rain, mud or no mud, 

 the traveler who fails to visit southern 



Chile misses one of the New World won- 

 derlands. There is an almost continuous 

 forest from the Bio-Bio to the "jumping- 

 off place" at Puerto Montt. In this for- 

 est are many lakes and clear grass-bor- 

 dered rivers. Lumbering is the important 

 industry. Sawed timber is piled high at 

 the railroad stations. 



In the days when Darwin voyaged to 

 Chile, pine boards passed for currency in 

 the southern ports. The Indians brought 



