With such mineral resources, and a soil capable of producing the most varied vegetation of the tropics, a liberal policy is all that the country lacks.  The products of the Philippine Islands consist of sugar, coffee, hemp, indigo, rice, tortoise-shell, hides, ebony, saffron-wood, sulphur, cotton, cordage, silk, pepper, cocoa, wax, and many other articles.  In their agricultural operations the people are industrious, although much labor is lost by the use of defective implements.  The plough, of very simple construction, has been adopted from the Chinese; it has no coulter, the share is flat, and being turned partly to one side, answers, in a certain degree, the purpose of a mould-board.  This rude implement is sufficient for the rich soils, where the tillage depends chiefly upon the harrow, in constructing which a thorny species of bamboo is used.  The harrow is formed of five or six pieces of this material, on which the thorns are left, firmly fastened together.  It answers its purpose well, and is seldom out of order.  A wrought-iron harrow, that was introduced by the Jesuits, is used for clearing the ground more effectually, and more particularly for the purpose of extirpating a troublesome grass, that is known by the name of cogon (a species of Andropogon), of which it is very difficult to rid the fields.  The bolo or long-knife, a basket, and hoe, complete the list of implements, and answer all the purposes of our spades, etc.

[Draft animals.] The buffalo was used until within a few years exclusively in their agricultural operations, and they have lately taken to the use of the ox; but horses are never used.  The buffalo, from the slowness of his motions, and his exceeding restlessness under the heat of the climate, is ill adapted to agricultural labor; but the natives are very partial to them, notwithstanding they occasion them much labor and trouble in bathing them during the great heat.  This is absolutely necessary, or the animal becomes so fretful as to be unfit for use.  If it were not for this, the buffalo would, notwithstanding his slow pace, be most effective in agricultural operations; he requires little food, and that of the coarsest kind; his strength surpasses that of the stoutest ox, and he is admirably adapted for the rice or paddy fields.  They are very docile when used by the natives, and even children can manage them; but it is said they have a great antipathy to the whites, and all strangers.  The usual mode of guiding them is by a small cord attached to the cartilage of the nose.  The yoke rests on the neck before the shoulders, and is of simple construction.  To this is attached whatever it may be necessary to draw, either by traces, shafts, or other fastenings.  Frequently this animal may be seen with large bundles of bamboo lashed to them on each side.  Buffaloes are to be met with on the lake with no more than their noses and eyes out of the water, and are not visible until they are approached within a few feet, when they cause alarm to the passengers by raising their large forms close to the boat.  It is said that they resort to the lake to feed on a favorite grass that grows on its bottom in shallow water, and which they dive for.  Their flesh is not eaten, except that of the young ones, for it is tough and tasteless.  The milk is nutritious, and of a character between that of the goat and cow.