OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 837 



The successful introduction of improved live stock has been one of 

 the most important features of the ^York of the Guam station. In 

 September, 1911, G Morgan liorses, 5 Ayrshire cattle, 4 Berkshire 

 hogs, and 8 each of Barred Plymouth Rock and Brown Leghorn 

 chickens were shipped from Seattle by (Tovernment transport. xVfter 

 a voyage of about a month they were landed in Guam in good con- 

 dition. As a precautionary measure all animals were placed in 

 quarantine for a short period, after which they were transferred to 

 the station, where they are to be used in an attempt to improve the 

 live stock of the island. Unfortunatel}' the oldest bull died about 

 a month from the time of landing. He exhibited some of the symp- 

 toms of tick fever, but was the only animal so affected. It was be- 

 lieved that the Australian cattle tick {Maragopus onnulatiis aus- 

 tmlis) was present on the island, but nothing was known regarding 

 its being infected with«the organism causing tick fever. The other 

 animals are all re]3orted in good condition and thriving on forage 

 produced on the station. 



The field and garden work has given better results than during 

 previous years, due probably to the better condition of the soil as a 

 result of continued cultivation. In the field crop work an experi- 

 ment with maize is receiving most attention. Corn constitutes a 

 staple food for the people of Guam, and as there are comparatively 

 large areas where corn can be grown the extension of its cultivation 

 is believed to be highly important. A large number of varieties of 

 corn have been secured from tropical countries, and these will be 

 compared with the kinds commonly groAvn on the island. A strain 

 of Mexican June obtained from Manila has already given higher 

 yields than the native variety, but the grain does not retain its vi- 

 tality as long. The forage-plant problem seems to be solved. It has 

 been demonstrated that sorghums, Kafir corn, etc., can be readily 

 grown, and this part of the experiment has been reduced in area. 

 Among the grasses introduced by the station, Para grass {Panicum 

 molle) has proved by far the best for planting where the soiling svs- 

 tem of feeding is followed. From 25 clumps of roots introduced in 

 1910 the station has now more than an acre planted and has dis- 

 tributed several wagonloads of roots to ranchers for planting. Pas- 

 paluin dUdtatum and Guinea grass {Panicvm maximum) are both 

 giving satisfactory results, and either would be an important acquisi- 

 tion were it not for the fact that the Para grass has proved to be a 

 better and more adaptable species. Other field crops, among them a 

 number of sjiecies of leguminous plants, are receiving attention, the 

 pigeon pea, jack bean, and peanut being worthy of note. Their in- 

 troduction will not only furnish human food, but also forage, and aid 

 in restoring fertility to the soil. 



Vegetables have almost without excejition produced better yields 

 and the product generally has shown an improvement in quality. 

 The experiments with vegetables have included a large number of 

 varieties, seed of which have been sown at dilFerent times of the year 

 in order to determine the most advantageous time for ]')lanting. The 

 interest in gardening is increasing, if one nuiy judge from the appli- 

 cations for seeds, and so far as possible the requests have been com- 

 plied with. 



The work witli tropical fruits is l>eing ra])idly extended. The 

 pineapples introduced from Hawaii have shown such pronounced 



