276 DEPARTMENTAL EEPORTS. 



exchange if so desired. He has also begun a collection of economic 

 insects. Of the insects detrimental to agriculture in the island, the 

 mole cricket, known as the changa, ranks first, and it has been made 

 a subject of special study. Manj^ experiments have been tried to pre- 

 vent its ravages upon nearly all classes of crops. All available mate- 

 rial in reference to its introduction into the island and its habits have 

 been secured from planters and from such reports as have given mea- 

 ger information along this line. Sufficient material has already been 

 brought together to make a bulletin upon the subject, which will be 

 published in both Spanish and English for distribution in Porto Rico. 

 Considerable attention has also been given to the combating of other 

 insects by means of various forms of insecticides. The bacterial dis- 

 eases affecting the tomatoes and a disease of similar nature w^hich has 

 caused failure in xjotatoes has also been treated with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture, but without result. 



The experiment station, in cooperation with the Bureau of Soils of 

 this Department, has completed the field w'ork of a soil survey embrac- 

 ing about 350 square miles in the western half of the island. This 

 surve}^ includes a strip 10 miles wide extending along the line of the 

 military road from Arecibo to Ponce. It extends directly across the 

 island, from the north shore to the south shore, and therefore crosses 

 all of the geological formations, which, for the most part, extend east 

 and west across the island. The manuscripts and map resulting from 

 this work are now ready for the printer and will be published as a 

 part of the field operations of the Bureau of Soils for the present fiscal 

 year. As soon as the Dej)artment has issued this publication it would 

 be well for the experiment station to have the report translated into 

 Spanish and to secure an additional supply of maps to accompany it 

 for distribution throughout the island. 



The station staif as organized during the year consists of Frank D. 

 Gardner, special agent in charge; O. W. Barrett, entomologist and 

 botanist; P. A. English, farm foreman, and C. R. Newton, clerk and 

 stenographer. 



A bill asking the insular legislature to appropriate sufficient funds 

 for the purchase of a suitable tract of land for the j)ermanent use of 

 the experiment station was introduced in the executive council in 

 February, 1902. It passed both the upper and lower houses, with 

 practically no opposition, and an appropriation of $15,000 was made 

 immediately available for this purpose. Bids were advertised for 

 toward the close of March and were closed on the 12th of May. Dr. 

 W. H. Evans, of this Office, was sent to Porto Rico to aid in the selec- 

 tion of land for the station. The result of these negotiations was the 

 purchase of approximately 230 acres of land adjacent to the city of 

 Mayaguez. The land is varied in character and well located with ref- 

 erence to the city. It gives promise of making a very desirable site 

 on which to carry out the objects of the experiment station. The build- 

 ings consist of a large dwelling house, which will be adequate for the 

 accommodation of the station staff; an old sugar house, which has been 

 transformed into offices and laboratory quarters; stables and other 

 outbuildings, including a brick kiln and the usual sheds, which will 

 serve for implement sheds. Possession of this property was not secured 

 until a few daj^s before the close of the fiscal year, but these few days 

 were well improved and much work was done in putting buildings 

 into repair and cleaning up roadways, fences, and ditches. All things 

 considered, the work of the year may be considered quite successful, 

 and much has been accomplished with the limited funds at our 

 command. 



