THE GUAM STATION AND ITS WORK. 609 



against the entrance of moisture-laden air and, if properly con- 

 structed, against weevils, which can not live in them. Corn placed in 

 one of these tanks on Deceniljer IG was apparently in as good condi- 

 tion at the close of the fiscal year, after more than six months' storage, 

 as it was when first stored. 



HEDGE-PLANT STUDIES. 



One of the most serious drawbacks to agriculture in Guam is the 

 fact that cattle are allowed to run at large or are carelessly tied and 

 commonly find their way into cultivated fields. The loss occasioned 

 by the depredations of loose animals is a great discouragement to 

 planters. Galvanized barbed wire is selling on the island at $90 

 United States currency per ton, and under the climatic conditions of 

 high atmospheric humidity, with the moisture of the air carrying a 

 considerable amount of salt, the tendency is toward rapid deteriora- 

 tion of the wire. The high price and short life of wire practically 

 prohibit the average farmer from using this style of fence. The 

 cheapness and permanency of a good hedge fence should recommend 

 it at least to all farmers who are tilling their own land. Pledge 

 fences are sometimes grown by the native farmer of Guam, but these 

 are ususally of tangantangan {LeuccBTui glauca) or tubatuba {Jatro- 

 pha curcas), both spineless, soft-wooded, brittle plants that are of 

 little or no value for fencing. Several plants have been under obser- 

 vation at the station during the year, the most promising being the 

 common camachile {Pith ecoloh him dulce). of which a fence over 700 

 feet in length has been started. This species is a hardy, deep-rooted, 

 spine-bearing tree, which when cut back has a tendency to spread, 

 and by proper pruning it is believed that it can be made both service- 

 able and ornamental. 



PLANT INTRODUCTIONS. 



Among the plants introduced during the year are the following: 

 Five varieties of bananas, Marogogype hybrid and Amburayan cof- 

 fees, sisal, Ceara rubber and cacao from Manila, five varieties of 

 sweet potatoes, two of taro, roselle, papaya, and mammea apple from 

 Hawaii, papaya from Java, sweet potato from China, and Eureka 

 lemon, Mediterranean sweet orange. Triumph pomelo, and white 

 Adriatic and California black figs from the United States. Besides 

 a large number of shade trees and ornamental shrubs not mentioned 

 above, a large quantity of camphor seed was obtained from Japan, 

 but failed to grow. 



