12<> HKl'OHT OF Ol'FlCl': OF HXI'FUhM KNT STATIONS. 



joining tlio station, foniu'rly tlic a^roiKtuiic stutii)ii uiuUr SiJtinish 

 niK\ has been tiinuHl ovtr to tlu' station for its use. 



Tlu' insular loj^islatMre at its last session passed a seed and plant 

 inspection law and a fertilizer law. In the former the station is 

 eharired with the inspection, while in the latter the station acts in an 

 advisory capacity. The seed and plant inspection law is limited to 

 the inspectit)n of coU'ee, cotton, antl citrus fruit trees, but on accmuit 

 of the fact that many parasites occur on a lar<j^e number of species 

 of phmts the law should bo made to include all importations. Cane, 

 cacao, rubber, and otlici- economic plants should be protected as well 

 as those mentioned in the law. 



The Porto Hico Station is becoming recognized as an important 

 factor in developing the agriculture of the island. For many crops 

 no defii:ite data are available and these problems will be given atten- 

 tion as funds permit. The work at the coU'ee substation has already 

 demonstrated the possibility of improving the production of that 

 staple crop, and the extended adoption of the method of culture 

 reconmiended would revolutionize the industry in Porto Rico. The 

 l^roblem of familiarizing the coffee growers with these experiments 

 is a serious one, and it is one that can hardly be left to the station 

 alone. The popularizing of the station's work through the medium 

 of farmers' institutes has been begun and will be continued. The 

 recent arrangements for cooperative and directive work for the 

 insular government shows an appreciation of the station's work by 

 the authorities. 



LINES OF WORK. 



The principal lines of work of the Porto Rico Station during 

 the past year were as follows: Collection and variety tests of 

 tropical vegetables and fruits; cultural and fertilizer tests with 

 northern-grown crops to determine their adaptation, time of planting, 

 etc.; experiments with fiber plants; investigations of injurious in- 

 sects, and fungus and bacterial diseases of plants; selection of coffee: 

 rejuvenation of an old coffee plantation; tobacco investigations; soil 

 survey, and distribution of seeds for trial by farmers. 



INCOME. 



The income of the station during the past fiscal year was as follows: 



United States appropriation $13,000.00 



Farm products 1.013.62 



Total — 10,013.62 



