OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 271 



become stagnant it was found that the root rot was most prevalent. By 

 the use of fertilizers it was found possible to actively stimulate the 

 growth of the plant and make it less liable to disease. Wherever a 

 liberal application of lime was made there was no disease, and with 

 care in the management of the water, selection of cuttings, rotation 

 of crops, use of lime and fertilizers it was found possible to not only 

 reduce the disease, but to considerably increase the production of the 

 crop. 



The experiments with potatoes were conducted upon the island of 

 Maui in cooperation with one of the residents of that island. This 

 island formerly produced the most of the potatoes grown in the archi- 

 pelago. A disease locally known as black rot has for ten or more 

 years been seriously depreciating the crop. This, as has been deter- 

 mined by the station authorities, is due to a soil fungus, and experi- 

 ments are being undevtaken to combat it. In the field investigations 

 45 varieties of potatoes were grown under similar conditio)is, and 

 marked differences were noted in the susceptibility of the varieties to 

 disease. This work is to be followed up in the hope that some sorts 

 may be found which are nearly or quite resistant to disease. 



InvestigatioQS were begun on the diseases of poultry, and a bulletin 

 was issued in which suggestions were given for the care of fowls and 

 treatment of the diseases to which they are especially subject, and as 

 a result of which poultry and eggs are excessively expensive in the 

 Hawaiian markets. 



Considerable interest has been recently aroused in the production 

 of fiber plants, and the farm manager of the station was detailed to 

 make a study of the subject, and material has been collected for a 

 bulletin on the cultivation of sisal and its preparation for market. 



Attention has been given to a number of minor crops that were 

 believed worthy of investigation and development. A large number of 

 seeds of rubber trees from Nicaragua were obtained and a quantity 

 of acorns of the cork oak were secured from France. Most of these 

 were intended for station planting, but a considerable quantity was 

 distributed throughout the islands under conditions that were con- 

 sidered favorable to the station and to the recipients alike. Experi- 

 ments are in progress on the improvement of the mangoes. A method 

 of grafting that has proved successful in Florida will be tried, and it 

 is hoped in this waj" to disseminate some of the more valuable vari- 

 eties of that excellent fruit. The possibilities of castor-bean cultiva- 

 tion have been looked into and a very successful castor-bean planta- 

 tion of more than a hundred acres is reported upon one of the islands. 

 Further investigations will be given this subject. A considerable 

 number of inquiries were received concerning the growing and mar- 

 keting of peppers. Information on this subject was secured and fur- 

 nished to the public through the medium of the local press. The 

 growing of pineapples for canning purposes is being developed, and 

 the advice of the station staff on this as well as many other topics 

 have been eagerl}" sought and freely given. 



Visits have been made by various members of the station staff to 

 the other islands of the group, and an attempt has been made to get 

 in touch with all the different agricultural communities. A sjjecial 

 visit was made to the island of Hawaii, which in some respects contains 

 the most diversified agriculture to be found on any of the islands of 

 the group. 



During a portion of the year the agent in charge made an investi- 

 gation regarding the use of i:)umps for irrigation purposes in the 



