590 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



warehouses. Examinations made subsequent to the final fumigation 

 showed that the manufactured cigars were free from beetles, as was 

 also the baled tobacco, the hydrocyanic-acid gas having completely 

 penetrated the bales. 



The station continued its plant-breeding work along several lines, 

 A very prolific white-seeded strain of a black bean from Venezuela 

 has been obtained. The mango orchard has been extended and the 

 station now has about 60 varieties of introduced mangoes, many of 

 which are coming into bearing. Studies are made of the character 

 of the different fruits and the possibility of their utilization by ship- 

 ping to the mainland or by canning or preserving. Successful 

 efforts have been made to can mangoes, and a very attractive product 

 that retains its flavor has been produced. 



Investigations of some of the factors which influence the price of 

 Porto Rican citrus fruits are in progress, and a large amount of data 

 has been secured on the effect of temperature, humidity, ventilation, 

 and other conditions on the quality of the fruit when it reaches the 

 mainland markets. 



GUAM STATION. 



The island of Guam was visited by a destructive typhoon on 

 March 26, 1923, and much damage was done to buildings, fences, and 

 crops. The animal husbandman in charge placed the damage to the 

 station property at $8,000. As the regular appropriation to the 

 station was not sufficient to meet the expense, $5,000 was transferred 

 to the station from department funds, under authority given in the 

 act making appropriations for the department. Immediate tem- 

 porary repairs were made to protect the station property, and the 

 permanent restoration of the buildings and fences is being pushed 

 as rapidly as materials can be obtained. 



During the year the animal husbandman in charge of the station 

 made a visit to the Philippine Islands, where he had opportunity 

 to confer with the insular authorities regarding experiment station 

 matters and to secure a large amount of information and material 

 that it is believed will be of value to Guam. Arrangements were 

 made for the inspection and fumigation of a large quantity of 

 economic plant material that was taken to Guam and provision was 

 also made for future supplies of the same character. 



The reduction in the appropriation has made it impossible to fill 

 the positions of agronomist and horticulturist and of extension agent. 

 The work is maintained as far as possible by the animal husbandman 

 in charge, with such assistants as he can obtain locally, none of 

 whom has had much scientific or technical training. 



The station continues to be about the only source from which 

 animals for breeding purposes can be obtained, and as a consequence 

 its work in up-breeding horses, cattle, swine, goats, and poultry is 

 being given special attention. One of the greatest difficulties met 

 with in stock raising in Guam, aside from the degenerated stock, is 

 the absence of suitable feeds. In connection with the breeding work, 

 experiments in feeding are in progress with all types of animals to 

 determine the possibility of substituting local feeds that may be 

 available in quantity for the high-priced concentrates that are 

 brought from the States. The results of experiments with horses, 



