436 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



in 1921, 83.72 inches; and for the first half of 1922 it was only 12,7 

 inches. The normal rainfall, based on 60 years' records, is 46.81 

 inches. The deficient rainfall had a disastrous effect upon some of 

 the station work, ns there are no facilities for irri<j;ation and only 

 meager supplies for use in the pot and other experimental wotk. 

 As a result the experiments with cane seedlings and the propagation 

 of other young plants were carried on witii the greatest difficulty. 



The area devoted to work in agronomy Avas greatly reduced, and 

 the field crop work is now confined to relatively small tracts. The 

 acreage formerly devoted to growing sugar cane which was sold to 

 mills has been greatly reduced, and the plantings now consist of seed- 

 lirfg canes that were developed at the station by the former agrono- 

 mist. Three varieties which showed the most promise were planted 

 in half-acre plats and grown in comparison with Eibbon and Crystal- 

 lina, the standard varieties of cane in St. Croix. Excellent reports 

 are still received of fhe variety S. C. 12/4 originated at the station. 

 This cane has been in the possession of planters for two or three 

 years, and during the past planting season more than 200.000 cuttings 

 were shipped from St. Croix. The upright habit of growth of this 

 cane permits its closer planting, but as it does not shade the ground 

 so well or produce so much trash which acts as a mulch, it v/ill prob- 

 ably not succeed as well in light soils where moisture is a limiting 

 factor in cane production. The number of sprouts coming up from 

 each stool during the dry season which has prevailed Avas found 

 greatest for the variety S. C. 13/13. About 300 new seedlings were 

 grown in pots during the past year, and they Avere awaiting favorable 

 rains for planting in the nursery. A rather extensive experiment in 

 sweet potato breeding was begun. In February seed balls were ob- 

 served in plantings of several of the leading varieties of sweet po- 

 tatoes, and the seed was collected and sown in flats. The seed germi- 

 nated A'ery unevenly, but there were on hand at the end of the fiscal 

 year 265 seedlings in nursery hills, each of which is potentially a new 

 variety. Much variation in leaf pattern, color, and vine habit is ob- 

 served in the different seedlings. 



A preliminary trial w^as made of 22 varieties of cowpeas, and when 

 sown early in December the groAvth Avas entirely satisfactory. The 

 yields of shelled peas per acre varied from 327 to 762 pounds, with 

 an average for all varieties of 570 pounds per acre. Work with soy 

 beans was less satisfactory, the highest yields being 545 pounds of 

 seed per acre. A test of a hybrid corn, produced by crossing a 

 strain of local corn Avith the variety Black Mexican. gaA'e a yield of 

 17.1 bushels per acre. This strain is thought to ofl'er considerable 

 promise as a table corn. Work with cotton has been abandoned by 

 the station, and, in accordance with a general understanding with 

 cotton planters, all cotton plants and seed have been destroyed. 

 This action was taken on account of the presence in St. Croix of the 

 pink bollworm, and it is hoped that by abandoning cotton culture for 

 a fcAv years the pest can be controlled. 



There is an urgent demand for more and better fruits and vege- 

 tables in St. Croix and St. Thomas. There is a constant shortage of 

 these products, and the principal supplies for St. Thomas come from 

 the neighboring island of Tortola. A preliminary trial in vegetable 

 growing was begun in the fall of 1921. plantings being made from 

 September to December. Insect pests proved very troublesome to 



