roKTo KICO KXl'KRIMENT STATION. 4'29 



larger horses for road purposes, and especially for good-sized mules 

 for work purposes. At present all the interior road freighting and 

 the plowing of hmd is done hy oxen. Dairying should he con- 

 fined, lirst, to the development of a good local milk supply, and 

 second, to the manufacture of ))utter and cluH'se for home consump- 

 tion. It would not he \vis»' to attcmj)! to do more than develop the 

 industrv for home consumption, for it presents certain dilhculties 

 which are more easily overcome in a temperate climate. 



Swine industrv should he, first, the introduction of a suitable breed 

 for the climate, and second, to ascertain what tropical crops are best 

 suited for producing pork. 



The poultry should l)e improved in size particularh' and with refer- 

 enct^ to botli meat and eggs. 



SOIL INVESTIGATIONS. 



The soil surve}', Avhich was begun last year and of which a map has 

 })een prepared, should l)e continued. To })e successfully carried on 

 this work would require the cooperation of the Bureau of Soils. Cer- 

 tain restrictions laid upon the appropriation for the Bureau now pre- 

 vents its cooperation in this regard. 



Soil improvement l)v the application of manures and growing of 

 leguminous crops will b(> fully investigated at the station grounds. 



The cooperation of the various bureaus of the Department with the 

 experiment station is desired to the fullest possible extent, and a 

 scheme for such cooperation along various lines will be suggested for 

 approval of the Secri^tary. 



Th<^ cordial financial support which has thus far been accorded the 

 station by l)oth the National Congress and the insular legislature, 

 together with the interest manifested })y the planters in requesting 

 its publications, is very encouraging and bespeaks for the station a 

 high degree of usefulness. 



It is confidently believed that the people of Porto Rico will meet 

 the demands of the experinuMit station by adequate appropriations 

 with which to eidai'ge its usefulness from year to year. 



REPORT OF 0. W. BARRETT. ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



During July attention was directed ])i-in(ipally toward experiments 

 with the changa {Scaj>fi'/'isci/.s (l/dacfi/Zi/s) and with insecticide and 

 fungicide tests in the vegetal)le jdats. In August the experimental 

 ])lats were harvested and a collection of the native crops in the vicinity 

 was made and x-iil to the new station grounds at Mayaguez; some 

 attention was also giv<Mi to the herbarium and insect collection. 



On account of the condition of the land at the new ijfrounds and the 

 time re(|uired to tit the. soil for <-ro])s v(>ry little ecological work was 

 attempted, the greater ])art of the time from Sei)tember to December 



