diseases liave been allowed to ravage the plantations 
and reduce their productiveness to such an extent that 
large areas have been abandoned and supplemented by 
pastures. There is no doubt that cacao is one of the 
most important crops for El Valle, providing that the 
plantations are properly managed. From observations 
made in various parts of Colombia, I am firmly of opinion 
that the trees are not so productive as they should be 
owing to the damage and destruction caused by insect 
pests and fungoid diseases. It is no exaggeration to say 
that the production in many cacaolales is reduced from 
thirty to even fifty per cent., in certain cases more, from 
these causes. If the plantations were properly managed 
and the pests and diseases controlled by spraying with 
suitable insecticides or fungicides, the loss which is now 
suffered would be saved and the annual production very 
considerably augmented. These insect pests and diseases 
are not peculiar to this country, they exist also in other 
cacao-growing countries — for example, in the Antilles. 
It is generally admitted in the Antilles that if spraying 
and other measures are not taken systematically there is 
usually a loss amounting to fifty per cent, of the crop. 
The situation is one that calls for immediate attention, 
and it is my opinion that the Government of the Depart- 
ment should encourage and foster this most important 
industry by facilitating the importation of spraying 
machines and appliances, and by the provision and sale 
to the growers of suitable insecticides and fungicides at 
cost price and duty free. It should further provide 
instruction in the methods of treating these pests, prefer- 
ably by way of sending around a competent agricultural 
instructor who should give practical demonstrations. It 
is sad to see cacaolales being abandoned to pastures ; I 
am in favour of the expansion of the cattle industry, but 
there is plenty of room in the valley for pastures on lands 
unsuitable for cacao. The production of cacao is a 
staple industry of the Department, which in my opinion 
should not be allowed to fall into decay ; the sanitation 
of the existing cacaolales is a matter, however, which calls 
for immediate and serious attention. It is not possible 
to go into details of treatment in this Report without 
making it too long ; I hope, however, to publish shortly 
a pamphlet on this subject for the use of growers. 
Cotton. 
Cotton should prove a remunerative crop in such parts 
of the valley where the soil is well drained and not subject 
to inundations, and where labour is available in adequate 
quantity. There is no doubt that if cotton be produced 
on a large scale it would find a ready sale locally. The 
early ripening varieties known as American Upland should 
prove most suitable for the valley, sowing being made at 
a time to allow the crop to come to maturity in the dry 
season, or during the driest months of the year. The 
rainfall table at the end of this Report might be con- 
sulted in this connection, bearing in mind that for the 
first six months, during its period of growth, it requires a 
moderate rainfall, thereafter little or none. The plant 
should be treated as an annual and destroyed after gather- 
ing the crop, so as to prevent as much as possible the 
propagation of insect pests and diseases. The cultivation 
of cotton is exceedingly simple, but the plant has many 
insect enemies, and it is necessary that the grower should 
be acquainted with the methods of controlling them 
before embarking on its cultivation on a large scale. 
With the view to encouraging the cultivation of cotton in 
the Department, I would recommend that the local 
Government should import a quantity of seed of a few of 
the best strains of Egyptian and American Upland, and 
distribute them amongst wonld-be growers for trial, keep- 
ing the varieties to distinct regions to prevent mixture of 
the staple. Trial should also be given to the excellent 
Lengupa cotton of Boyaca, which is infinitely superior to 
the American Upland types, and would fetch double the 
price. It might also import sprayers and insecticides, so as 
to have at hand remedies for such insects as may appear ; 
such insecticides and apparatus for applying them might 
be supplied to the growers at cost price, in order to 
encourage the initiation of this industry. These remarks 
and recommendations not only apply to the Cauca Valley, 
but are also applicable to the Hoya del Quindio and 
similar regions of Caldas. 
Tobacco. 
The valley comprises suitable lands for the cultivation 
of good grades of tobacco, and leaf of very fair quality is 
produced for local consumption, especially in Palmira 
and Tulua. The cultivation and curing of this crop is a 
very specialised profession, and it requires experienced 
and trained persons to produce a lir.st class tobacco. 
Persons desirous of embarking on its cultivation on a 
commercial scale, especially if for export purposes, would 
be well advised to secure an experienced grower from one 
of the countries where tobacco leaf of high cjuality is 
grown. Nevertheless, much might be done by the 
introduction of selected seed of good strains, and the 
careful selection of seed h'om year to year, only from 
selected plants possessing good qualities and reserved 
especially for the production of seed. Also by greater 
care in the selection and curing of the leaf. These 
remarks also apply to the Hoya del Quindio of Caldas. 
Sugar-cane. 
Many parts of the valley are suitable for the production 
of sugar-cane, but there exists only one estate that is 
producing white sugar on a commercial scale by modern 
methods. There are numerous cane plantations for the 
production of pauela, and with its present high price, this 
is a most lucrative industry. Much might be done to bring 
about the improvement of the cane plantations in the way 
of increasing their producing capacity, by the careful 
selection of cane for planting purposes, and by the intro- 
duction of improved varieties of cane from the West Indies. 
Rice. 
Irrigation can be easily effected in different parts of the 
valley, and there are extensive areas that might be devoted 
to the cultivation of rice. A commencement has been 
made in one locality, but there is no reason why its 
cultivation should not be taken up more generally. Seed 
might be procured of some of the well-known Indian 
types and distributed to growers. 
The Cattle Industry. 
Cattle raising forms the principal occupation in the 
valley, and there is no doubt that it is the industry on 
which the future prosperity of the Department lies. The 
world’s demand for cattle is increasing, and El Valle 
having a port of its own on the Pacific Coast, with a 
railway tapping the north and south of the Department 
and neighbouring provinces, the cattle industry cannot 
fail to grow in importance and prosper. 
The local Government should however endeavour to 
foster and improve the industry, as the local breed of 
cattle forms excellent material for building up a first-class 
type of cattle for beef. Considering the vital importance 
of this industry to the country, and the necessity of 
improving the size and quality of the cattle, as well as 
increasing the herds, I would recommend that the 
Government should establish a small stock farm, where 
breeding experiments should be carried out, to prove the 
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