PORTO RICO EXPKRIMEI4T STATION. 437 



readih )>•' tniincd into a straii^'ht, t'ew-ln-anched, woody i)lant of 2 to 3 

 iiioters. 



Plants of the true ]\iU^.{C(>rrli()ri<!< (v/^Av^/A/r/.s), orown froin purchased 

 seed, are niakiiio- a tine growth and fruiting heavil\'. 



A few seedlingsof a rare shrub ])elievcd to be T)((j)hno2mf<2>JiiluV^'^^^^^' 

 were secured at the coffee substation and are now- ready for permanent 

 setthig. Hopes made from the liber of the bark of this phmt can not 

 be bitten off })y horses or dogs on account of the abundance of rhaph- 

 ides contained in the fiber cells. 



Roots of the famous Arouma {Isdmosl^^hov atunmui) were collected 

 in the forest at Arima, Trinidad, but the attempt to cultivate the 

 species has been a failure here as in Trinidad. 



Young plants of the '" Jipijapi" {Carhidoricas]). i) were obtained in 

 Caracas, Venezuela; this species is said to produce the best grade of 

 leaf for making "rananur' hats in Colombia and Venezuela. They 

 are now growing in the cloth tent, l)ut probably require greater humid- 

 itj' and more shade to attain perfect development. 



Four old roots of OarludovlcYi pahnata have been received from the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, 

 one plant of which survives a ''Idack-rot'' disease. 



Contrary to the popular ludief experiments have shown that plants 

 of the l*orto Rico hat palm {/nodes cai(slaruvi) may ])e easily raised 

 from seed; these seedlings, however, should be transplanted from the 

 wet sand l)efore they reach a height of inches. 



At the coffee substation the leaves of the " Palma de Sierra" {Acrista 

 montlcola) are made into cordage, hammocks, bottoms for cot beds, etc. 

 If a market could be found for this coarse material a new industr}^ 

 would ])e opened; the supply is practically inexhaustible in the moun- 

 tainous districts, especially in the Luquillo Forest Reserve. The young 

 leaves of the royal palm {Iioi/sfoiiHi horhiqucna) could be used similarly. 



rOKKST I'LAT. 



An experiment has Iteen begun to determine whether a hill, barren 

 of trees and composed of the common red clay over limestone, can 

 be profitably afforested with native or introduced species of tim))er 

 trees. About 4 acres have been set with seedlings, cuttings, and 

 "■volunteers" of 1 to 8 years of age; 100 square feet are allow-ed to 

 each tree. 



The present rank growth of grass and weeds serves as partial shade 

 for the vei-y young plants; as soon as required a space is cleared 

 around each tree, the rubljish being used as a nuUch during very dry 

 weather. 



A few species have been included, not so nnich t'oi- their tinil)ei" val- 

 ues as for othci- economic purposes, as carob, logwood, kopok, l)ay 

 rum. copal, etc. ' 



