OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 703 



The field operations with all crops were more successful than dur- 

 ing the previous year, due probably to the improved condition of 

 the soil which followed a year's proper cultivation. The leading 

 investigation continues to be the production of feed and forage pre- 

 liminary to experiments on the improvement of the live stock of the 

 island, and includes experiments with corn, various grasses, and legu- 

 minous forage plants. 



The experiments with corn during the year were to test the Mexi- 

 can June corn from Manila in comparison with the native corn. The 

 yield of the Mexican June corn was heavier, the ears were filled bet- 

 ter, and the grain deeper and less flinty than the native varieties, 

 but in an experiment on keeping seed corn under identical conditions 

 the samples of Mexican June lost all ability to germinate, while a 

 perfect stand of native corn was obtained. These experiments are 

 to be continued and extended so as to include varieties of corn from 

 practically all tropical countries. 



The experiments with the grasses have shown the superior value 

 of Para grass followed by Paspalum dilatatum and Guinea grass over 

 all others tried. The Para grass, which was introduced through the 

 Hawaii Experiment Station, has multiplied until the station now 

 has an acre planted, which is to be extended, and has distributed a 

 large number of clumps of roots for planting. 



The production of forage from several of the nonsaccharine sor- 

 ghums has been fully demonstrated. Of the leguminous plants 

 under observation the pigeon pea, jack bean, and common peanut 

 have given pi-omise of success. 



Much work has been carried on with vegetables. For some, addi- 

 tional data regarding the proper planting season must be secured. 

 Beets planted in March have done well. Patolas {Lujfa cegyptica) ^ 

 a vegetable usually cooked with meat or in soup, has been introduced 

 from Manila and has proved very satisfactory. This vegetable was 

 formerly grown in Guam, but the stock had apparently been ex- 

 hausted. Limited quantities of seed of this vegetable have been dis- 

 tributed during the year. Radishes, especially a variety grown by 

 the Chinese gardeners about Manila, have given excellent results. 

 Carrots were tested and gave full satisfaction. Onion seed planted 

 in December failed to germinate. Where sets were received from the 

 United States and planted, fairly good bulbs were produced. Water- 

 melons have given excellent results, but muskmelons failed to ripen 

 well and were lacking in flavor. Cucumbers, lettuce, and eggplants 

 gave good yields of excellent quality. Less success has been attained 

 with cabbage and tomatoes, but further trials are in progress. 



One of the most striking achievements is in the introduction of 

 the Smooth Cayenne pineapple from Hawaii. The plants have 

 fruited, are of excellent quality, and many fruits weighed as much as 

 10 pounds, as compared with a maximum weight of 4 pounds for the 

 native fruit. There is much interest in this fruit, and the station 

 will distribute 1,000 or more plants this year. A number of other 

 varieties of pineapples have been introduced for trial at the station. 

 The results with avocados, oranges, lemons, and pomelos have been 

 satisfactory, the trees making good growth, but all are too young to 

 bear fruit. An attempt is being made to introduce Japanese persim- 



