Colombia consumes vast quantities of rice, As to its domestic production, the United States consul at Barranquilla (Supplement to Commerce Reports, 30 June 1915)' says: an important article of consumption, is culti vated by small farmers in a primitive way, the chief implements being a few hides, wooden poles, and a winnowing fan of palm leaves.° In view of the favorable climate, the unlimited facilities for irrigation, and, above all, the ex pressed intention of the government to foster agrarian pursuits, along with the present, in creasing price of foodstuffs, the time seems opportune for making rice culture of com mercial importance. Prior to the European War, the quantities imported amounted to ap proximately $800,000 annually, 86 per cent being furnished by Germany. At the present time Great Britain and the United States are supply ing the market. During the fiscal year ending 30 June 1912, the United States supplied 73,353 pounds, valued at $2,741 • 1913, 45,740 pounds, valued at$2,113; 1914, 17,680 pounds, valued at $629; 1915 2,584,076 pounds, valued at $98,013; 1916, 8,934,829 pounds, valued at $343,105; and 1917, 3,383,644 pounds, valued at $142,775.
Uruguay is essentially a pastoral country, and, with the exception of wheat, has, until re cently, given but little attention to the raising of cereals. As to her imports of rice, the fig ures are included among other (food products.° No imports were made from the United States in 1911, 1912, 1913 or 1914. Those made hi 1915 amounted to 93,175 pounds, valued at $4,635; 1916, 48,660 pounds, valued at $2,513; and 1917, 1,758,226 pounds, valued at $88,329.
Venezuela raises a comparatively small' amount of rice. According to the United States consul at La Guaira (Supplement to Commerce Reports, 17 April 1916), is grown, but in far from sufficient quantity, and it is one of the principal articles of import.° Imports in 1913 amounted to $288,607, of which The Netherlands supplied $150,986; Germany, $106,088; the United States, $16,281; Great Britain, $9,635; and France, $14104. In 1914, die imports amounted to $396,906, of which The Netherlands supplied $196,052; Germany, $86,922; the United States, $63,630; Great Bri tain, $5,837; others not reported. In 1915, the amount was $619,952, of which the United States supplied $424518 Great Britain, $91, 415; Trinidad, $23,866; Spain, $24,029; and France, $656 (Supplement to Commerce Re ports, 17 April and 29 Dec. 1916). According to the reports of the United States Department of Commerce (1915, 1916), the exports from the United States to Venezuela for the year ending 30 June 1912, amounted to 46,388 pounds, valued at $1,490; 1913, 42,650 pounds, valued at $1,589; 1914, 25,018 pounds, valued at $800; 1915, 4,253,399 pounds, valued at$175,408; 1916, 6,559,777 pounds, valued at $262,448; and 1917, 9,411,231 pounds, valued at $424,389.
Guatemala in 1913 raised 3,501,000 pounds of rice ; 1914, 22,753,200 pounds; and 1915, 24,015,000 pounds, indicating an increased in terest in the development of this industry, a condition resulting from general world condi tions and the appreciation of the possibilities, in an agricultural way, of the country. In 1916 the production, due to labor demands for other industries, fell to 13,554,700 pounds, estimated (Commerce Reports, 5 April 1917). Rice, being the principal article of diet, large quantities are also imported, the quantity from the United States being, in 1911 (fiscal year ending 30 June), 164,675 pounds, valued at $4,164; 1912, 130,330 pounds, valued at $3,513; 1913, 68,200 pounds, valued at $2,524; 1914, 81,295 pounds, valued at $3,422; 1915, 671,299 pounds, valued at $27,172; 1916, 235,814 pounds, valued at $9,658; and 1917, 181,546 pounds, valued at $7,515.
Honduras, according to the report of the American Consul at Tegucigalpa supplement to Commerce Reports, 7 July 191 ), is pecu liarly adapted to the raising of rice, but never on a large scale until highways are built and transportation facilities afforded the people." In a later report, his successor at the same place said (Supplement to Commerce Reports, 3 May 1916) : °Honduras at present imports a vast quantity of rice; yet Honduran rice is considered the best on the market, and avail able rice lands in the Puerto Cortes district, cover a large area.° The production in 1915 amounted to 3,252,000 pounds. The imports, 1913-14 (fiscal year ending 1 August), amounted to $82,124, of which the United States supplied $72,218, and Germany, $9,310; 1914-15, total, $112,627, of which the United States supplied $110,194, and Germany, $1,421 (Supplement to Commerce Reports, 18 Dec. 1916). Evidently on a different basis of valua tion, the United States Department of Com merce gives the exports of rice to Honduras as follows: 1912, 1,101,230 pounds, valued at $33, 267; 1913, 1,083,045 pounds, valued at $44,599: 1914, 1,501,472 pounds, valued at $65,101; 1915, '2,119,055 pounds, valued at $83,748; 1916 2,264. 256 pounds, valued at $90,650; and 1917, 2,601,727 pounds, valued at $115,157.
In Nicaragua rice is grown, but not enough for local requirements" (Supplement to Commerce Reports, 1 Dec. 1915). The imports of this cereal amounted in 1913 to $172,645; 1914, $134,882; and 1915, $145,550. Imports from the United States have been as follows: 1911, 330,393 pounds, valued at $10,242: 1912, 583,476 pounds, valued at $17,328; 1913, 812,911 pounds, valued at $32,448; 1914. 697,612 pounds, valued at $29,719; 1915, 807,672 pounds, valued at $32,601; 1916, 1,164,645 pounds, valued at $46,232; and 1917, 1,529,180 pounds, valued at $62,519.