220 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DV.PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



grown from less than $100,000 in 1900 to over $2,100,000 in 1911. 

 The station has shown in growing these crops that in Porto Rico at 

 least windbreaks are necessary for citrus fruits and that too much 

 lime in the soil must be avoided in planting pineapples. 



The renovation of coffee plantations has been given much attention 

 with promising results, and the value of pruning, fertilizing, and 

 cultivating the trees has been demonstrated. By following these 

 means a renovated plantation was made to more than double the 

 average yield of the island. New varieties of coffee have been intro- 

 duced, and many of the higher priced coffees of the world are now 

 in bearing and their seed is being distributed for planting. 

 , Much attention is being given to insect pests and fungus diseases, 

 and marked progress has been made in combating them. Wind- 

 breaks as cons^rvers of moisture in citrus groves have been found an 

 efficient means of securing conditions favorable for the development 

 of fungi ; which destroy some of the "most troublesome scale insects 

 affecting oranges. A special study has been made of some of the 

 so-called sick soils of Porto Rico, which from chemical and physi- 

 cal composition should be productive but which are almost wholly 

 barren. The causes of their peculiar behavior appear to be biolog- 

 ical, and means for their improvement are being worked out. 



An effort is being made to improve the live stock of the island, 

 and the station has introduced improved breeds of horses, cattle, 

 swine, and poultry, and the presence of such animals is already ap- 

 parent in the better grades of stock found in many localities. 



QITAM. 



In Guam from various causes agriculture had fallen to a very 

 low plane and production was much below the food requirements of 

 the island, and the immediate problem has been its improvement. 

 The first efforts were in the securing of better varieties of crops and 

 the introduction of new ones tKat have proved valuable in other 

 tropical countries. In this the station has been very successful, and 

 a number of forage plants, varieties of corn, vegetables of various 

 kinds, tropical fruits, etc., have been thoroughly established. 



Following the demonstration that forage could be readily pro- 

 duced, improved horses, cattle, swine, and poultry have been sent to 

 Guam, and late reports state that they are doing well in their new 

 surroundings. Only one year has elapsed since the stock was sent 

 to Guam, but their presence has already awakened among the people 

 a desire for better animals upon their ranches. 



The work before the stations is the same as it was in the begin- 

 ning — pioneering in Alaska, the diversification of agriculture in 

 Hawaii and Porto Rico, and improving agricultural methods in 

 Guam. Some progress has been made, but much yet remains to be 



