July 1, 1902.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
35 
the chief exports of the Philippines have 
been susiiv, valued at 2i million sterling 
thfrteen years ago, hemp (£1,600,000) and 
tobacco (£500,000). We always understood 
that in coconuts tlie islands would be tor- 
midable competitors of ours; but we have 
not been able to trace any special mention 
of the palm industry in the pages which 
have come into our hands. On the subject ot 
Agriculture, we read . „ „ 
The Philippine Islands are fundamentally aa 
agricultural country. So much has already beea 
said, and said truly, as co the great prodactiviLy 
of t'le soil and the diversity of cUmafce within 
the archipelago that tliis subject may here be 
passed over. The methods of cultivation at pre- 
sent employed are of the crudest. Modern agri- 
cultural implements are practically uni^own. 
Artificial fertilization of the soil is almost unheard 
of and, as a rule, land is not deemed worth culti- 
vation unless it will continne to produce crops 
indefinitely without enrichment. 
There is a wide field for the introduction of new 
fruits, fodder grasses, grains, rubber and gutta 
producing trees. Grapes, strawberries, raspberries, 
blackberries, figs and walnuts have already been 
planted la Benguet, and are growing well. Tea 
has also been introduced with encouraging re- 
sults, , ^ , -,- . 
Much of the agricultural land of the Philippines 
is admirably adapted to cultivation by steam 
plows and harrows. The water buffalo, which has 
suffered most heavily from rinderpest, has always 
been at best a slow and unsatisfactory draft 
animal. The American mule, on the other hand, 
thrives here. 
And again . 
That the agricultural resources of the Philip- 
pine Islands are immense goes without saying. 
A country containing a vast area of fertile and 
undeveloped virgin soil where for years agricul- 
ture has been neglected and retarded by the 
constant state of war and insurrection that has 
existed for many years past ; where no attempt 
has been made by the indolent natives to produce 
more than was needed for immediate consump- 
tion, and where modern implements and machinery 
and agricultural methods have been heretofore 
entirely unknown, the Philippine Islands stand 
today ready to receive the influx of capital, the 
farmer, and up-to-date implements and methods 
with which to develop its extensive resources: and 
this development will surely take place just as 
soon as the Government will make its policy, such 
that the settler and homesteader will have equal 
chance with the capitalist and moneyed syndicate 
and the public lands of the islands are thrown 
open to settlement. 
Copra, tobacco, hemp and sugar are well known 
exports, while the cultivation of rice has been so 
neglected that at the present time there is not 
enough of this product giown to supply the local 
market. Sugar, while being produced in large 
Muanlitie.o, is grown and harvested with such 
lack of skill, and the syrup extracted by such 
antiquated methods that the output of simply 
the area now under cultivation could be increased 
50 per cent or more by the introduction of intel- 
ligent cane culture together with modern machi- 
nery and appliances. The rubber and coffee t'-ees 
and also many other minor branches of agricul- 
ture can be prolitably engaged in and yield large 
returns, 
But the Filipino i.s by no means inclined 
to work, and the labour ditRculty is one 
that the investor must reckon with. And 
oa this point the deliverance is more plain- 
spoken than encouraging : — 
The greatest obstacle that confronts the investor 
in the Philippines is the liibor question. It seems 
to be the general impression in the States that 
labor in the Philippine is "dirt cheap," a laborer 
being able to live ou but a few cents a clay and 
working for an extreinely low wage. However, 
experience with the native laborer will soon 
destroy the illusion of cheapness. The price of 
an article alonC does not determine cheapne.ss — 
it depends upon what you get for your money. 
The average Filipino does not want to work ; does 
not see the use of work, and is not going to work 
unless compelled to do so by pressing necessity. 
They can be divided into two classes; those who 
only work whfn necessity demands, and those 
who never W(yrk. They are much like the 
American Indian in the belief that women were 
made to work rather than men. The women are 
employed extensively in the cigar and cigarette 
factories and are good vvorkers ; they also occupy 
the markets in selling small products, and usually 
contribute the greater part of the support of the 
family. 
The average day laborer receives a wage of 
from ^8 to S12 gold per month, but a gang of 
twenty natives working together hardly accom- 
plish as much as two or three good American 
workmen would do in a given space of time, 
They have no conception of the value of time or 
necessity. A large portion of their time is 
consumed in lighting and smoking cigarettes and 
in conversation with each other and a little work 
now and then just to fill in the time. Neither 
have they any idea of independent action, and 
must be told and shown every detail of what they 
are to do, and even then they seldom do it right 
the first time. 
As to reliability, it is something entirely foreign 
to the Filipino. If he is told to do a thing he 
must be watched until it is completed or it will 
never be done. His veracity cannot be depended 
upon under any circumstances, as his last resort 
is the truth, and then only to be used in case of 
emergency. 
Between " fiestas," church holidays and the 
indisposition of the " hombre " himself, twenty 
days' work in a month is a good average, and 
aft;er each pay day or two he will have enough 
money on hand to tide him over for two or three 
weeks while he takes a vacation and visits his 
relatives. 
Since writing the above review, the news 
has come to hand of President Roosevelt 
hinting at a restoration of independence to 
the Philippines later on. That prospect 
Avould be likely to discourage investment, 
unless such safeguards were taken as might 
ensure due protection for foreign capital; 
but in any case a guarantee of this kind most 
be one of the conditions. 
OPENING OF THE EXPERIMENTAL 
STATION AT GANGAROOWA, 
PEKADENIYA. 
In the article on the history ot the Botanic 
Gardens with which this volume opened, it^was 
