70-i ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



mons, and trees of 10 varieties have been secured for trial in different 

 paits of the island. Peen-to peaches, several varieties of grapes, 

 strawberries, some Philippine varieties of bananas, and many other 

 fruits have been introduced and are being given a trial. 



Miscellaneous plants, such as Ceara rubber, kola nut, camphor, 

 hedge plants, and some ornamentals, are being tested. A Ceara 

 rubber tree attained a height of IG feet and a circumference of 10 

 inches, 3 feet from the ground, in a year from the planting of the 

 seed. 



Mention has been made in previous reports of the desirability of 

 taking up experiments on the improvement of the live stock of the 

 island. All stock is very much degenerated, owing to various causes. 

 The horses are small and weak, likewise the cattle. A number of 

 head of cattle were slaughtered for beef last year, and animals 

 ranging from 20 months to 2^ years dressed 125^ to 358 pounds. 

 There were purchased for the station 6 head of Morgan horses 

 and 4 of x\yrshire cattle, and had it not been for the placing of the 

 Army transport Dix out of commission for the summer they would 

 have been in Guam before the end of the fiscal year. They were 

 started from Seattle in September, and in addition some poultry and 

 4 head of Berkshire hogs were sent. If this preliminary introduction 

 proves successful, other breeding animals will be introduced into 

 Gram as opportunity offers. 



A growing interest in the work of the station is noted and all 

 requests for seeds and plants have been granted as far as supplies 

 were available, and instructions given regarding their planting and 

 care, every encouragement being offered to increase interest and 

 bring success to the planter. The cordial cooperation of tlie local 

 authorities in furthering the station's work has aided materially in 

 the attempt being made to improve the agricultural condition of 

 the island. 



PROPOSED STATION OF TUTUILA. 



The attention of the department has been called to the desirability 

 of establishing an agricultural experiment station on the island of 

 Tutuila. This and the adjacent Manua Islands, of the Samoan 

 Group, came into the possession of the United States in 1899. The 

 population of over 5,000 is mainly engaged in agriculture, copra, the 

 dried flesh of the coconut, being about their only marketable product. 

 The naval governor of the islands reports that the coconut beetle 

 has appeared on Upolu, the largest of the Samoan Group, only about 

 40 miles from Tutuila. Wherever this pest has gained entrance it 

 has proved very destructive, and means should be taken to keep it 

 from gaining admission to Tutuila, or great injury will be done. At 

 the same time it is believed that the establishment of a station would 

 prove of great value to the people through the introduction of new 

 crops, improved methods, better live stock, and more rational han- 

 dling of their crops. A man educated along the lines of modern 

 agriculture could instruct the natives in the proper methods of plant- 

 ing and be of inestimable value to the people who ceded their islands, 

 containing Pago Pago, the best harbor in the South Pacific Ocean, to 

 this country. 



