OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 755 



vention of the Fusarium on pineapples have been so successful that 

 the treatment on a field scale was made during the past year. Experi- 

 ments have shown that spraying with Bordeaux mixture can not 

 be depended upon to control citrus scab in Porto Rico, as is claimed 

 to be the case elsewhere. A study has been begun on the fungi causing 

 root injuries to sugar cane, in which the fungi have been isolated and 

 as far as possible identified. 



The work with coffee, in addition to the experiments in the renova- 

 tion of old plantations and establishment of new ones, includes in- 

 vestigations with foreign coffees, methods of transplanting, viability 

 of coffee seed and means for preserving it, methods of fertilizing and 

 cultivation adapted to different types of soil, etc. Among the foreign 

 coffees introduced by the station a number of trees have borne and 

 the station has limited quantities of seed of Padang, Maragogype. 

 Preanger, a Ceylon hybrid, and the famous Blue Mountain coffee or 

 Jamaica that may be had for planting purposes. These are among 

 the highest priced coffees of the world, and 3-year-old trees have 

 yielded over a pound of cleaned coffee to the tree. In view of the 

 requirements of the appropriation act for this Department the work 

 with coffee will be considerabl}^ extended. 



Plantings of vanilla, several species of rubber-yielding plants, 

 cacao, and other economic plants have been made, and the station's 

 collections of these plants is being rapidly extended. A study has 

 been begun on the reasons for the rapid deterioration of vegetables 

 grown from northern seed, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, okra, radishes, 

 beets, and cantaloups being experimented with. 



The work of improving the live stock of the island is l3eginning to 

 show some results. The progeny of American saddle-bred horses 

 bred to native mares have matured into handsome animals that com- 

 mand very high prices. The station has introduced six more horses 

 during the year to continue the work. The cross-bred zebu bulls 

 introduced by the station in 1909 have developed splendidly and they 

 will be used to improve the size of the native cattle. The woolless 

 sheep introduced from Barbados a year ago have proved well adapted 

 to their surroundings, but need some improvement in their meat- 

 yielding qualities. The breeds of pigs and poultry introduced by the 

 station are proving adapted to Porto Rican conditions and the sur- 

 plus is in great demand by planters and breeders. Continued experi- 

 ments with cane tops and corn as silage have shown the importance 

 of the silo as an adjunct to stock keeping. 



During the year more sanitary and commodious buildings for the 

 farm live stock have been erected. 



GUAM STATION. 



The purchase of the tract of land leased by the station from Juan 

 Torres has been completed and the transfer of the property made 

 according to the laws and customs of Guam. The purchase price, 

 $1,300, is considered very reasonable and the station now has a per- 

 manent location. The land has been cleared of its tropical growth 

 and fenced, some roads have been constructed, and necessary build- 

 ings have been erected or are in the course of erection. Of the 32 

 acres that are adapted to general agriculture all but 5 or G are now 

 under cultivation. In order to supply the station with water for 



