Seasonal Patterns

The oscillation of wet and dry seasons shapes the basic form of Buguias agriculture. The first rains usually arrive in late April. Plantings on dry fields, especially those with clay-rich soil, can now begin, although cautious farmers wait for the more reliable rains that come in middle to late May. By July, the soil is saturated; most mornings begin with sunshine, but afternoons are usually drenching. July may also see the first typhoon. Through the wettest months good drainage is vital, especially for root crops. Fungal

growths also plague most crops in this season; although these can be counteracted with fungicides, farmers avoid growing susceptible crops in damp and shady areas. Wind may also destroy certain crops in the typhoon season, although topography creates limited areas of partial protection.

The rains usually diminish in October, but typhoons can strike in November and lingering showers sometimes persist through December. This late rainy season is in many respects the ideal cropping period. Although soils are still moist enough for sowing, they are seldom too wet, and they dry gradually as the plants mature. In unirrigated fields with heavy soil, residual moisture allows cropping to continue into the early weeks of the true dry season. By February, however, all dry fields have been harvested and left fallow until the spring rains. Irrigated crops, on the other hand, thrive during the arid months. With sunshine plentiful and humidity low, fungus is minimized, and the warm weather of March and April favors even such subtropical crops as bell peppers.