The Department of Agriculture has recently issued a report on the
plant products of the Philippine Islands, which is particularly
interesting at the present time. The report deals with the agricultural
resources of the islands as they now exist, and shows that although an
agricultural country, the islands do not produce enough food for the
consumption of the inhabitants. In order to supply the deficiency, it
is the custom to draw upon rice-producing countries, such as Cochin
China. About one-ninth of the area of the Philippine Islands, or
8,000,000 acres, is devoted to agriculture. When the natural fertility
of the soil is considered and the large amount of rich land not yet
cultivated, it can be assumed that with better agricultural methods
the products of the islands could be increased tenfold. Rice forms
one of the most important food products of the islands; more than a
hundred varieties are grown; the annual production is about 36,000,000
bushels. This is, of course, far below the actual requirements of the
population, even when supplemented by other vegetables and fruits.
Maize, next to rice, is one of the most important of the grain products
of the Philippines, and the sweet potato follows maize in turn. Fruits
grow in great abundance, bananas heading the list. Large quantities of
sugar cane are grown, but owing to crude methods of manufacture, the
sugar is inferior in quality and is sold for a low price. Cotton is
not as valuable a product for the islands as it once was, owing to the
successful competition of British fabrics. Formerly indigo also was
one of the important products of the islands. Coffee plantations thrive
well, but the coffee is not of the best quality and the plantations are
not well managed. In most of the islands of the archipelago tobacco is
grown and over one hundred million cigars are annually exported from
Manila. The shipment of leaf tobacco averages about 20,400,000 pounds.
The islands also furnish spices and medicinal plants are abundant, but
most of them are little known.