STATES EELATIONS SERVICE. 459 



As an emergency program during the war, some efforts were made 

 to carry on extension work in the Tanana and Matanuska Valleys, 

 and considerable interest was aroused in agricultural production. 

 With the resumption of the usual investigations it was no longer 

 possible to continue this effort. It is now quite apparent that ex- 

 tension work is needed throughout the whole of the interior valleys. 

 The settlers were in the main attracted to Alaska on account of its 

 mineral and fishing industries and often had had but little agri- 

 cultural experience. Many of them are in need of experienced advice 

 with their problems and unless their efforts are properly directed 

 thev mav fail. The agronomist in charge of the station strongly 

 urges provision for an extension agent who shall devote all his time 

 to studying the farmer's problems and advising him how to succeed 

 under conditions with which he may not be familiar. The Alaska 

 advisory connnittee, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, 

 recommend the appointment of such an advisor as an important part 

 in the development of the Territor3^ 



HAWAII STATION. 



The station has continued to direct its investigations toward the 

 l^roper diversification of the agriculture of the islands and especially 

 to the production, preservation, and utilization of food products. 

 Very satisfactory results were obtained in the manufacture of 

 starches from a considerable number of locally produced crops and 

 from experiments in the drying of fruits and vegetables. Some of 

 these products are now under investigation in the Office of Home 

 Economics and a report upon them is expected soon. The possibility 

 of the conunercial production of some of these products seems as- 

 sured. The growing of cassava on an extended scale in Hawaii has 

 been resumed, owing largely to the station's efforts in securing better 

 varieties and the demonstration of the use of the roots for feeding 

 purposes, culinary use, and for making starch. The edible canna 

 is being widely grown and its tuber like roots are used as a substitute 

 for Avhite potatoes and for starch, the latter having proved especially 

 valuable as food for invalids. Among the horticultural projects 

 especial attention was given to improved mangoes, avocados, papayas, 

 and to nuts, particularly the Macadamia nut. the dissemination of 

 Avhich has been quite rapid since its introduction. Efforts are being 

 concentrated on the propagation and dissemination of the Pirie 

 mango and the Solo papaya, two superior varieties for Hawaii. 

 The chemical division has begun a study of the requirements of the 

 banana for plant-food elements and has a large number of plats de- 

 s'oted to this investigation. Rotation experiments, combined with 

 fertility investigations, are in progress on many types of soils and 

 with many croj:)S. It is hoped that from these experiments the sta- 

 tion will be able to recommend profitable crop rotations for the 

 different islands. 



The work with corn, pigeon peas, sweet potatoes, and various other 

 forage and feeding stuffs continues to receive mucli attention, and 

 through tlie breeding up of locally established varieties the acre 

 yield of some of the improved strains is more than double that of 

 the parent varieties. A new variety of cowpea, that is believed to be 

 an accidental hybrid, is being rapidly propagated for distribution. 



