REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 309 



Toward the end of the year arrangements were made for the equip- 

 ment of a plant-disease laboratory, and some much-needed work was 

 begun on certain diseases of potatoes, celery, bananas, taro, and sweet 

 potatoes. 



In cooperation with local representatives of tile United States 

 Army, forage-production experiments were begun at Schofield Bar- 

 racks. A tract of 13 acres was set aside for the use of the station, 

 and preliminary experiments were begun with a large number of 

 forage plants from various parts of the world. If this experiment 

 proves a success, a large area of the military reservation will be avail- 

 able for forage production, the importation of hay for Army pur- 

 poses alone amounting to more than 6,000 tons annually. Since most 

 of the forage of the islands is now imported from 'the mainland, the 

 success of this experiment will result not only in the production of a 

 supply of forage for the Army, but also in the establishment of a 

 large hay-making industry in Hawaii. 



The work of the marketing division, which is supported by terri- 

 torial funds, under the supervision of the station, continued to grow 

 in amount, and the results achieved are considered important aids to 

 the diversification of agriculture in the islands. The sales during 

 the past year amounted to over $127,000. In addition to the selling 

 of miscellaneous produce, the division aids in the purchase of feed, 

 fertilizers, seeds, crates, packing material, etc. A new building 

 erected from territorial funds was occupied during the year. In 

 order to dispose of surplus island produce, a branch agency has been 

 opened in San Francisco. 



The extension work is being developed along several lines. The 

 diversity of population, language, soil, and climate necessitates visual 

 demonstrations in many localities. Arrangements have been made 

 with representative farmers in the different homestead settlements 

 for demonstration of different crops and agricultural methods, and 

 the results are given wide publicity by the extension workers. Farm- 

 ers are advised as to the best season for planting their crops for the 

 greatest returns, methods of preparation for marketing, and sug- 

 gestions given for the cooperative purchase of their necessities. In 

 some instances aid is given in the formation of associations for mu- 

 tual benefit of the members. Several such associations have been 

 organized. There is a great need for the extension of this service to 

 those individuals who grow small areas of sugar cane for sale to 

 mills. Several thousand acres of cane is grown in this way in tracts 

 of from 2 to 20 acres, but the growers are unorganized and not 

 being affiliated in any way with the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' 

 Association, get no assistance through the experiment station of 

 that association. There are many important problems in connection 

 with the economic production of small areas of cane that need work- 

 ing out, and the growers have come to the station with the request 

 for assistance. The coffee growers and the small growers of pine- 

 apple are in a similar position, and an increased appropriation is 

 needed to help them solve some of their difficulties. 



Porto Rico Station. 



The work of the station under D. W. May, agronomist in charge, 

 continued along about the same lines as previously reported. The 



