460 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



When cut two months after seeding it produced more than 4 tons 

 of green feed per acre, and from the second growth a good crop of 

 seed was produced. 



The pathologist, just before he resigned to join the staff of the 

 Hawaii sugar planters' experiment station, had brought his root- 

 rot studies to a point where the common origin of rots of rice, taro, 

 bananas, sugar cane, and pineapples seemed to be indicated. The 

 possible bearing of his discovery on the Lahaina disease of sugar cane 

 led to his transfer to the sugar experiment station, where he can 

 devote more of his attention to this phase of the problem. Cooper- 

 ative work on the control of taro rot and the banana freckle-spot 

 disease seem to offer some very promising results. 



The demonstration work at Haiku, Maui, continues to give excel- 

 lent data for use in the extension work of the station. Fertilizer 

 experiments begun several years ago are beginning to show the needs 

 of Hawaiian soils for phosphatic fertilizers. The possibility of 

 growing various constituents to enter into concentrated feeding stuffs 

 has been successfully demonstrated, and a number of mixed feeds 

 of local origin are now on the market. The Haiku station as a source 

 from which to obtain improved strains and varieties of various crops 

 is recognized widely and there is a constant demand for all surplus 

 seeds and plants. 



The extension work is progressing as well as could be expected 

 with the funds available for this purpose. The work on Maui and 

 Hawaii, where extension agents are permanently located, is begin- 

 ning to show satisfactory results. Some attempts have been mada 

 to organize club v/ork among the boys and girls, and home demonstra- 

 tion work among the families of the islands. In the latter the 

 wives of members of the staff took an active part, and the results 

 from such limited opportunities were so encouraging that the station 

 desires to continue and expand its club and home demonstration 

 work. It is thought that through these agencies much good could 

 be accomplished and at the same time attention called to the other 

 work of the station. The population of Hawaii is composed of 

 peoples of m.ari)^ nationalities, and most of them can be reached and 

 influenced only b}^ direct contact, and on this account a further 

 development of the extension work is considered desirable. 



For several j^ears the station has cooperated with the War Depart- 

 ment in the production of forage, and now the commanding general 

 of the Department of Hawaii has requested further cooperation in 

 a campaign for the production of more adequate food supplies. The 

 importance of this work is recognized, but the station can not enter 

 into the work very energetically with its present income and staff. 



POETO RICO STATION. 



The lines of work of the station during the year have been less 

 along the production of emergency food and more generally devoted 

 to fundamental research. The production of some food crops that 

 w^as stimulated during the war continues to be satisfactory, and of 

 beans the local demand can now be readily supplied and there is a 

 considerable surplus for export. 



Chemical studies are made with rice in water and soil cultures to 

 determine the fertilizer requirements of this crop and also the in- 



