PORTO Riro exp?:riment station. 421 



])V the insular l(>t,^i.slatiire for diainaj^e the coniing year, it may be said 

 that ne^»'otiations thus far indicate that it will he more economical to 

 purchase* a small-sized til<* nia<hinc and manufactuiv the tiltr-; on the 

 ground. 



CLEARING AND PREPARATION OF LAND. 



DurinjT the vcar two tields have been cleared of a considerable 

 growth of ])rush, weeds, and grass, and plowed. The tirst, consisting 

 of about 15 acres, was prepared during October and November, 1^02, 

 and was })lanted to general crops such as rice, corn beans, cowpeas, 

 alfalfa, and katir corn. These crops were planted chiefly as a prelimi- 

 nary preparation of the land for future experimental purposes. Owing 

 to the lateness of planting, the severe attack of many insects, and the 

 prolonged drought which prevailed from January 1 to Ma}' 15, these 

 crops gave very poor results. After they were harvested the land 

 was laid out into permanent plats, each 20 b}- 50 meters, or one-tenth 

 of an hectare in area. Between the ends of plats was left roadwa3's 5 

 meters in width for the purpose of turning rows and passage with 

 wagons, etc., and along the sides was left a space 1 meter in width, 

 A number of these plats have been planted to permanent crops, while 

 others have been subdivided and used for annual crops, fertilizer 

 tests, etc. 



The second ticld, more recently cleared and plowed, contains about 

 25 acres, and is to ))e used for a general fruit orchard. A portion of 

 this was planted to general crops in May, as soon as the rains began, 

 but the results have been similar to those in the other field and indi- 

 cate that verv little may be expected from the first crops planted on 

 land that has for many years been allowed to go to w'ceds and brush. 

 The ditticulty on such land is largely due to insects, especially the 

 larval stage of various kinds, which seem to be abnormally abundant. 

 With clean cultivation a great many of them disappear in a few months. 



TRAVEL. 



During the year the special agent in charge made a ti'i}) to Wash- 

 ington to ])repare his last annual .eport and consult with the Director 

 of the Office of Experiment Stations in regard to the general policies 

 of the station. He also made one trip to San Juan, in Fe})ruarv, to 

 secure the introduction of an appropriation bill before the local legis- 

 lature, which was then in session. Two trips were made during the 

 year to the "La Carmelita," where the cott'ee ex]M'riments are being 

 conducted, and one trip to Lajas, in comj)any with Mr. Barrett and 

 Professor Earle, to study the pineapple industry at that ])lace. In 

 addition to the abo\-e the station Ixttanist and entomologist made a ti'ip 

 to Venezuela and Trinidad to study the cacao industry and collect 



