OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 757 



a result only limited quantities arc commonly stored. A method of 

 kiln drying and sealing in tanks is being tried as a means of pre- 

 venting loss and jjroviding a supply for future use. 



A number of the fruits and vegetables introduced by the station 

 are giving excellent results. Pineapples and avocados introduced 

 through the Hawaii Experiment Station are thriving, the first avoca- 

 dos produced on the island being from seed sent to Guam from Hono- 

 lulu for planting in the governor's garden some four or five years ago. 

 Several varieties of sweet potatoes were introduced from Hawaii 

 and the}^ have proved superior to anything previously grown in 

 Guaui. Experiments are in progress with a large number of other 

 field crops and vegetables, and with some considerable success has 

 been attained. 



The station is striving to gain the confidence and interest of the 

 people in its work, and for the short time it has been in operation the 

 condition seems quite satisfactory. The people seem anxious to obtain 

 seeds of plants the value of which the}^ can see, and some are quite 

 interested in the implements and methods of cultivation that have 

 been adopted. One of the most successful implements is a small culti- 

 vator that costs about $5. With one of these and a carabao a man can 

 do more and better work in the field than 10 men can do with the 

 native implements. The advantages of this cultivator have been 

 quickly perceived, and arrangements have been made to supply a 

 limited number of requests for them at cost until dealers have them 

 for sale. The introduction of these will doubtless be followed by a 

 demand for other agricultural implements and tools and a decided 

 advance in agriculture \\i\\ be brought about. 



The introduction of some improved live stock and the study of some 

 of the more important insect pests and plant diseases are problems 

 that are to be taken up as soon as possible. For the present the im- 

 portant problem is to interest the people in agriculture and get them 

 back u])on the farms. It is believed this can best be accomplished 

 by simple experiments in which the elementary principles of agricul- 

 ture are taught through ocular demonstration. 



IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS. 



Prof. Samuel Fortier continues to have charge of the Irrigation 

 Investigations of this Office. 



The rapid extension of the area under ditch and ready for settle- 

 ment during the last few years and the large amount of advertising 

 done by promoters of irrigation enterprises have created a heavy 

 demand on this Office from possible settlers for information of two 

 general classes: (1) General information regarding conditions in 

 the arid region — climate, water supply, crops grown, cost of water, 

 cost of land, and cost of establishing farms under irrigation; and (2) 

 practical information regarding methods of securing water supplies, 

 of preparing land for irrigation, and applying water to crops. It is 

 believed that in supplying this information this Office can be of 

 greater service to both the intending settlers and the communities to 

 which they expect to go than in any other way. Consequently the 

 preparation of bulletins containing this information was made the 

 leading feature of the w'ork during the last fiscal year. 



