268 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



that under existing conditions abaca can successfully compete with 

 Yucatan henequen as a binder-twine fiber. If this use of abaca can 

 be maintained and increased, the result will be equivalent to an 

 increased production of sisal or henequen within United States 

 territory. 



If the Philippine Islands are to produce the binder-twine grades 

 of abaca as cheaply as henequen can be produced under normal indus- 

 trial conditions in Yucatan it is essential that improvements be made 

 in the abaca industry. Improved varieties of abaca must be devel- 

 oped and distributed, improvement must be made in the methods of 

 cultivating and cleaning it, and steps must be taken to control and 

 eradicate the diseases w^iich liave appeared in several Provinces. 



In cooperation with the Philippine Bureau of Agriculture, the 

 Bureau of Science, and the College of Agi-iculture, preliminary steps 

 have been taken during the present year to organize this work. 



The cooperative work with sisal and maguey in the Philippine 

 Islands has resulted in a steadily increasing production of both of 

 these fibers. During tne past year, however, there has been a de- 

 crease in the production of machine-cleaned fiber. As a potential 

 source of supply of sisal and maguey fiber suitable for binder-twine 

 purposes the Philippines become more important each year. 



Continued improvement has been made in the quality of the Phil- 

 ippine machine-cleaned maguey fiber. American manufacturers re- 

 port that this fiber is now entirely satisfactory for binder-twine 

 purposes. 



FRUITS AND NUTS. 



NURSERY-STOCK INVESTIGATIONS. 



The work of the nursery-stock project in the eastern United States 

 has been chiefly confined to apple, pear, cherry, peach, and citrus 

 stocks. Between 30,000 and 40,000 apple seedlings from last spring's 

 germination are growing at the Bell Field Station. These seedlings 

 represent nearly 150 varieties of apples, including commercial sorts, 

 French crab varieties, and Malus species. At present the indica- 

 tions are that a good percentage will be of sufficient size for the two 

 larger grades. Much variation in the size of individuals under seem- 

 ingly the same conditions is being noted as the season progresses. 

 From these types of seedlings those having the best physical appear- 

 ance, indications of pest resistance, and other factors that determine 

 their value as stocks are being marked for propagation as individ- 

 uals from root cuttings. From these seedlings also it is hoped to get 

 indications of what commercial varieties or groups of varieties may 

 furnish the most desirable seeds for planting to produce apple stocks 

 commercially. 



A part of these seedlings was transplanted w^hen very young ])y 

 the aid of transplanting boards similar to the types in use by the 

 Forest Service, but special]^ adapted to handle very small seedlings. 

 The very good stands obtained and the speed in transplanting made 

 possible by their use leads to the belief that if this class of plants is 

 worth transplanting the use of these boards is desirable. 



The propagation of apple, pear, cherry, and plum stocks by root 

 cuttings has been continued at the Bell Field Station and at the Vir- 

 ginia Truck Experiment Station, Diamond Springs, Va. At the Bell 



