30 EEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



their meat-yielding qualities. The breeds of pigs and poultry intro- 

 duced by the station are proving adaptable to Forto Rican conditions 

 and the surplus is in great demand by planters and breeders. Con- 

 tinued experiments with cane tops and corn as silage have shown the 

 importance of the silo as an adjunct to stock keeping. A study is 

 being made of various stock feeds, concentrates being but little used 

 in Porto Rico. There does not appear to be much prospect for the 

 local production of concentrated feeds and more attention should 

 be given to those forage crops which can to some extent supplement 

 the present scarcity. This must be done by the planters before there 

 can be a very extensive improvement in the stock situation. During 

 the year more sanitary and commodious buildings for the farm live 

 stock were erected. 



GUAM STATION. 



The purchase of the tract of land leased by the station from Juan 

 Torres was completed and the transfer of the property made accord- 

 ing to the laws and customs of Guam. The purchase price, $1,300, 

 is considered very reasonable, and the station now has a permanent 

 location. The land was cleared of its tropical growth and fenced, 

 some roads were constructed, and necessary buildings were erected 

 or are in course of erection. Of the 32 acres that are adapted to 

 general agriculture all but 5 or 6 are now under cultivation. In 

 order to supply the station with water for irrigation and other pur- 

 poses a well was dug that gives an abundance of good water, and an 

 engine, pump, and pipes were secured to convey the water to points 

 where it is needed. 



The work of improving the station has proceeded exceedingly well, 

 when it is understood that nearly all supplies must be sent by trans- 

 port from San Francisco, and all the planning and much of the 

 overeight of the work devolve directly on the special agent in charge. 

 A capable foreman has been secured and the burden somewhat 

 lightened. 



The greater portion of the available land has been planted to 

 forage crops of various kinds. One of the lines of work which it is 

 desired to take up is the introduction of better live stock, but before 

 that can be done a regular supply of forage must be assured. On 

 this account especial efforts were given to the production of forage, 

 and Kafir corn, Egyptian corn, broom com, sorghum, milo maize, 

 Johnson grass, Guinea grass, Paspaluni' dllatatum.^ peanuts, mung 

 beans, jack beans, cowpeas, soy beans, and velvet beans were intro- 

 duced and are under comparison. Kafir corn produced large yields 

 of green feed when planted during the dry season, and when cut the 

 plants sent out new shoots and quickly produced a second crop. 

 The rattooning habit was found to apply to a number of crops in 



