INSULA.R EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 19 



attention. These are connected with fundamental problems of trop- 

 ical agriculture and the results can be applied under like conditions 

 anywhere. 



No change has been made in the policy of any of the stations, 

 diversified agriculture being the aim of each, and some results are 

 beginning to be apparent. The first commercial crop of cotton in 

 Hawaii in half a century was produced during 1910 as a result of 

 the showing made by the experiments of the station. The growing of 

 leguminous cover crops is being adopted in Hawaii and Porto Rico. 

 The value of windbreaks as a protection to orchards against the trade 

 winds is also becoming appreciated, and they are being planted by 

 the more progressive horticulturists. The suggestions of the Alaska 

 stations regarding the preparation of the soil, methods of planting, 

 varieties, etc., are being quite generally adopted. In Guam, where 

 work was begun only a little more than a year ago, the value of some 

 of the new crops has been recognized and many requests have been 

 received from the natives for material for planting. The adoption 

 of a small cultivator introduced by the station shows the open- 

 mindedness and willingness of the ranchers to adopt new crops and 

 methods when their superiority is demonstrated. 



The increase in buildings and equipment kept pace with the in- 

 comes of the stations, and the facilities for carrying on investigations 

 are fairly adequate for the problems now in hand and the means for 

 work will compare favorably with institutions in other countries 

 similarly situated. 



The various bureaus and offices of the department continue their 

 generous assistance to the work of the several stations by supplying 

 material and information, and it is desired to acknowledge here their 

 cordial cooperation. 



The administrative business of this office in its relations with the 

 insular stations continues to be under the charge of Dr. Walter H. 

 Evans, chief of the division of insular stations. The character, scope, 

 and results of some of the lines of work of the stations are summar- 

 ized below. 



ALASKA STATIONS. 



The early part of the season of 1910 was not favorable to field and 

 garden crops in Alaska, but from midsummer on the climatic condi- 

 tions became more satisfactory and the favorable conditions contin- 

 ued until late in the fall. This made it possible to grow many plants 

 to a better degree of maturity than often happens, and the success 

 reported with some crops was all that could be desired. The work 

 at the several stations has been continued along the lines described 

 in previous reports. The principal investigations at the several sta- 

 tions are hoi-ticulture at Sitka, grain growing and cereal breeding at 

 Rampart, general farming and adaptation of crops at Fairbanks, 



