28 REPORT OP OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



has been extended by the construction of about 1,000 feet of cascajo 

 road, and walks have been made about the new oflice building. A 

 lawn of Bermuda grass has been established, and ornamental and 

 hedge plants set out. These are kept clean and in order as examples 

 of neatness and cleanliness, which are generally lacking about the 

 native home. -Upon the occupancy of the new quarters it was pos- 

 sible to inaugurate a system of records that a lack of suitable office 

 space had made impossible. Considerable additions Avere made to 

 the office equipment, and the beginning has been made of a station 

 library. 



The field operations with all crops were more successful than 

 during the previous year, due probably to the improved condition 

 of the soil which followed a year's proper cultivation. The leading 

 investigation continues to be the production of feed and forage pre- 

 liminary to experiments on the improvement of the live stock of 

 the island, and includes experiments with corn, various grasses, and 

 leguminous forage plants. 



The experin:ients with corn during the year were to test the Mexi- 

 can June corn from Manila in comparison with the native corn. 

 The yield of the Mexican June corn was heavier, the ears were 

 filled better, and the grain deeper and less flinty than the native 

 varieties, but in an experiment on keeping seed corn under iden- 

 tical conditions the samples of Mexican June lost all ability to ger- 

 minate, while a perfect stand of native corn was obtained. These 

 experiments are to be continued and extended so as to include 

 varieties of corn from practically all tropical countries. 



The experiments with the grasses have shown the superior value 

 of Para grass, followed by Paspalum dilatatum and Guinea gi"ass, 

 over all others tried. The Para grass, which was introduced 

 through the Hawaii Experiment Station, has multiplied until the 

 station now has an acre planted, which is to be extended, and has 

 distributed a large number of clumps of roots for planting. 



The production of forage from several of the nonsaccharine 

 sorghums has been fully demonstrated. Of the leguminous plants 

 under observation the pigeon pea, jack bean, and common peanut 

 have given promise of success. 



Much work has been carried on with vegetables. For some, addi- 

 tional data regarding the proper planting season must be secured. 

 Beets planted in March have done well. Patolas {Lvffa cegyptica) ^ 

 a vegetable usually cooked with meat or in soup, has been intro- 

 duced from Manila and has proved very satisfactory. This vege- 

 table was formerly grown in Guam, but the stock had apparently 

 been exhausted. Limited quantities of seed of this vegetable have 

 been distributed during the year. Radishes, especially a variety 

 grown by the Chinese gardeners about Manila, have given excellent 



