4'M HKI'OKT OK OKKKK OK KXl'KKIMKNT STATIONS. 



boiiijif spent ill stiKlyin»( the ('(•(•iioinic [)liiMts of tiic disti-ict aiid in 

 Isiyin^' out mirsorios uiid piojKit^iitiiit^- })liit.s of .saiuc. The trials of native 

 vo<^otal)les,whieh were not <<)ni])lete(l in Kio IMednis were resunu'd. 

 From .liumarv to Jidy the work hius been almost entirely of a horti- 

 cultunil nature. It has seem(Ml best to <rive i)rominenee to ]K)nioloj^y, 

 and a fairly (•omi)lete eoUe(tit)n of the natixc fruits, as well as man}'' 

 varieties of tropieal and sul)tro[)ical fririts from other countries, lias 

 been made; forage, li})er, and vegetal)le crops have ])een considered of 

 secondar}' importance. Over 300 varieties of phmts have been under 

 investigation during the year. 



BESTJLiTS OF WORK. 



The herbarium now contains about '6'2ij species of economic phmts; 

 though hut very little time could be allowed for botanizing, many 

 interesting species have })een secured in or near the station grounds. 



Over 100 species of injurious insects have been studied. No attempt 

 has been made to include the noneconomic species as yet. 



A collection of the native woods has been conmienced; about 100 

 cabinet specimens and a small number of "trunk sections" arc already 

 assembled. 



As it was found impossible to prevent damage to the herbarium 

 specimens from mold and insects when kept in ordinary' cases, zinc- 

 sheathed cases have been substituted with complete success. 



Further study of the changa has resulted in no import; nt results 

 beyond those given in Bidletin No. 2. 



Two trips were made in May, in compan}- with Prof. F. S. Earle, of 

 the New*York Botanic Gardens, for the purpose of studAing the fun- 

 gus diseases of coffee and cacao. Three days were spent at the coffee 

 substation. 



In March a trip was made to Venezuela and Trinidad for the purpose 

 of studying the methods of cacao culture in use in those countries and 

 of securing seed of the principal varieties of the plant. Seven days 

 were spent in Venezuela and live in Trinidad. Ninety-one varieties 

 of seeds and plants were ))rought back, nearly all of which were new 

 to Porto Rico. Although the culture of cacao, in Trinidad especiallj'', 

 is far better managed than it is in this island, it was concluded that 

 our soils and climate compare ver}' favorably' with those of that 

 island, and that with proper interest and attention the industry can be 

 made ver}" profitable here. In St. Vincent the manufacture of starch 

 from arrowroot was witnessed. Two visits were made to the botanic 

 gardens, St. George. Grenada, and a call Avas paid to the botanic 

 station, Scar))orough, Tobago. 



In April a cheese-cloth tent 60 by 80 feet was erected after the style 

 of the ordinar}^ tobacco-shade tent. It was intended for use as a propa- 

 gating shed, but as the texture of the cloth has proved too light to 

 withstand the heavA' rainfall and strong winds and too open-meshed to 



