STi^TES RELATIONS SERVICE. 485 



in 24 hoars was considered, the relative rank was Guatemala grass, 

 Para grass, Japanese cane, and Napier grass. 



Experiments with rice have shown the desirability of earlj plant- 

 ing to escape the ravages of the rice bug and that the application of 

 commercial fertilizers was followed by increased yields. Partly to 

 reduce labor costs of maintenance and to gain information regarding 

 the efficiency of various species of leguminous plants for maintain- 

 ing a cover for the ground, the entire fruit orchard was prepared 

 and sown to various cover crops during the year. 



The grassland soils of (mam, when newly brought under cultiva- 

 tion, almost invariably yield poor returns. To find means of correct- 

 ing this, a number of experiments have been undertaken, among them 

 pot experiments in liming, which have now been run through five 

 crop periods. Those pots which received an- application of lime at 

 the beginning of the experiments and croj) residues since that time 

 are showing the beneficial effect of the application of the lime. The 

 horticultural work with tropical fruits has been confined to keeping 

 the trees in as good condition as possible. 



Through the cooperation of the insular government the station 

 continued to distribute seeds, plants, and cuttings of various vege- 

 tables, economic plants, field crops, forage plants, etc. There was a 

 reduced demand for vegetable and field-crop seeds, indicating, it is 

 believed, that the suggestions of the station regarding the saving 

 and storage of seed are being gradually adopted. 



The extension work suffered from reduced appropriations. The 

 agent in charge of this work resigned in November, 1921. An effort 

 was made to continue the work along the original lines, but changes 

 in the district school teachers, who act as supervisor's, and the em- 

 ployment of many of the club members seriously hampered the work. 

 Work during the year was carried on with 11 school gardens, repre- 

 sented by 203 workers and with 234 members of the United States 

 Garden Army. Among them garden vegetables were produced to 

 the value of $498.51. In the club work a total of 1,994 boys and 

 girls were enrolled, 1,072 of whom completed the year's program 

 and submitted reports of their work. Products valued at $13,743.54 

 w^ere raised by these boys and girls. 



VIRGIN ISLANDS STATION. » 



The agronomist in charge at the Virgin Islands Station, Longfield 

 Smith, resigned early in the fiscal year and was succeeded by John 

 B. Thompson, who was in charge of the Guam Experiment Station 

 for several years. The new station residence, begun in 1921, was 

 completed. ,and there are now satisfactory housing facilities for the 

 agronomist in charge and the entomologist. Some needed repairs to 

 other buildings were completed and eave troughs were provided so 

 as to increase to 3,000 square feet the area from which water is col- 

 lected for the station. This is the only water supply for the station. 

 Several acres of brush land were cleared to provide additional pasture 

 for the stock. 



Agriculture in the Virgin Islands has been experiencing a period 

 of pronounced depression, due to the low price of .sugar and a jxro- 

 tracted period of light rainfalls and labor difficulties on the sugar 

 plantations. The last two factors have influenced the station's work 

 to a considerable extent. The rainfall in 1920 was 35.801 inches; 



