756 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



irrigation and otlier purposes a Avell has been dug that gives an 

 abundance of good water, and an engine, pump, and pipes have been 

 secured to convey the water to points where it is needed. 



The work of iuiproving the station has i)roceeded exceedingly well, 

 when one considers that nearly all supplies must be sent by transport 

 froui San Francisco and all the planning and nuich of the oversight 

 of tlie Avork devolve directly on the special agent in charge. A 

 capable foreman has been secured and the burden somewhat light- 

 ened. 



The greater portion of the available land has been planted to 

 forage crops of various kinds. One of the lines of work which it 

 is desired to take up is the introduction of better live stock, but 

 before that can be done a regular supply of forage must be assured. 

 On this account especial efforts are being given to the production 

 of forage, and Kafir corn, Egyptian corn, broom corn, sorghum, 

 milo maize, Johnson grass, Guinea grass, Paspcdum dUatatum. pea- 

 nuts, mung beans, jack beans, cowpeas, soy beans, and velvet beans 

 have all been introduced and are under comparison. Kafir corn has 

 produced large yields of green feed when planted during the dry 

 season, and when cut the plants send out new shoots and quickly 

 produce a second crop. The ratooning habit has been found to 

 apply to a number of crops in Guam tliat are ordinarily grown as 

 annuals elsewhere. Among the grasses, Paspcdum dilatatum^ a 

 native of Brazil that has become established quite extensively else- 

 where, gives promise of the greatest value. Guinea grass that was 

 introduced from Hawaii is also promising and it is believed that 

 under more favorable circinnstances it will yield heavily. Johnson 

 grass, which was introduced into Guam some years ago under the 

 name Samoa grass, was planted at the station, but it has thus far 

 shown no superiority over the two other species mentioned. On 

 account of its tendency to spread and to hold the ground, even 

 against cultivation, it will not be distributed for general planting 

 until its habits in Guam are better known. 



The experiments with leguminous plants are proving quite suc- 

 cessful, so far as growing the plants is concerned. Cowpeas and 

 velvet beans grow readily and yield a large amount of forage, but 

 where it is desired to enrich the soil by plowing them under, the na- 

 tive plows will not answer the purpose. A variety of bush Lima 

 beans has been secured that produces an immense amount of leaves 

 on fairly good soil and that are more easily plowed under. The soil 

 of the station, although formerly in cultivation, has, through the 

 common methods of cultivation, been depleted of much of its fer- 

 tility. It is, however, typical of much of the farm land of Guam 

 and offers a good opportunity of demonstrating methods of enrich- 

 ing the soil through the use of leguminous crops, etc. 



Some attention is being given to corn culture and methods for im- 

 proving it. Considerable corn is grown in Guam and it forms a 

 staple article of diet, being largely used in the form of corn cakes. 

 The special agent in charge has introduced a small hand mill for 

 grinding corn to take the place of the usual laborious method, and he 

 is experimenting with the ground seed of Kafir corn as a substitute 

 for maize meal. An expernnent is in progress to determine a prac- 

 ticable method of storing corn and other grains. Great losses are 

 occasioned by weevils and rots due to the excessive humidity, and as 



