. The Philippine Islands . ny, sapan-wood, tamarind,bamboo, numerous palms, fibrous plants, etc. But I am nowconcerned only with the agricultural products, and shall thereforeconfine this chapter to a consideration of two of the more important—rice and sugar. In former years, the few that faced the obstacles to agriculturein an unworked country succeeded in obtaining fair returns inwealth from the cultivation of the main staples. But thosepalmy days exist no longer: prices have declined to one-thirdtheir former level, while the wages of the laborers have buffalo, the indispensable ai
. The Philippine Islands . ny, sapan-wood, tamarind,bamboo, numerous palms, fibrous plants, etc. But I am nowconcerned only with the agricultural products, and shall thereforeconfine this chapter to a consideration of two of the more important—rice and sugar. In former years, the few that faced the obstacles to agriculturein an unworked country succeeded in obtaining fair returns inwealth from the cultivation of the main staples. But thosepalmy days exist no longer: prices have declined to one-thirdtheir former level, while the wages of the laborers have buffalo, the indispensable aid of the farmer, could then be 202 The Philippine Islands. obtained for one-fifth its present cost, on account of the limiteddemand. Trade in those days was much less than at present,but the native producers and traders occupied a sounder posi-tion, and comfort existed, where penury now prevails. Of late years, hundreds have gone into agriculture with muchtoo little capital. They hold the land, but frequently without the. WOMEN EMPLOYED IN A PINA SHOP. deeds to show for it. Hence, their property is not negotiable,and they are thrown into the hands of the money-lender, whosqueezes the life-blood from the unlucky planter. As agriculture Agriculture : The Sugar and Kicc Crops. 203 yields less than tlurty per cent., and this or more has to be paidin interest on capital, the contract is likely to end in the money-lender getting the land. Few of the planters succeed in savingtheir estate and throwing off their load of debt. THE CULTIVATION OF SUGAR-CANE. The species of sugar-cane cultivated in the Philippines (sac-charum violaceuni) differs from that grown in the west, but it isthe same as that found throughout Malaysia and Polynesia gen-erally. TJic culture and manufacture are conducted in a veryslovenly fashion, consequently the sugar produced is coarse ofgrain and poor in quality. The yield, however, is large, andleaves, after the demands of the islands are supplied, some250,000
Size: 1565px × 1596px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectphilippinesdescripti
