15 



The station has a series of phits hvid ofl" for testinjij various legumes 

 and other forage crops. (PI. I.) Of the legumes the cowpea is the 

 most promising. Quite a number of varieties have been planted and 

 all do well when the soils are inoculated. The earlier A^arieties pro- 

 duced ripe seed in seventy days. The only serious pest of this crop 

 is the leaf hopper, which cuts a good many holes in the leaves, but not 

 enough to damage the plant greatly. The rainfall in the vicinity of 

 the station is very heavy, and soils for cowjjeas should be fairly well 

 drained. In some of the drier sections it is probable this crop will do 

 even better than at the station. In general the cowpea in its growth 

 does not materially differ from the same plant in the States, except 

 that the stem is somewhat thicker. A number of varieties have been 

 ])lanted throughout the twelve months, and while all seasons are 

 favorable to their growth, they do better in regions of hea\^^ rainfall 

 if planted during the drier months. 



This legume is one of the finest soil renovators known, not only 

 storing large amounts of nitrogen in the soil, but leaving the ground 

 in fine physical condition. It has been reported as doing well in the 

 north side of the island among the orange groves. Any section grow- 

 ing cowi)eas may have no fear of failure in improving the condition 

 of its soil. The growth of this legume is one of the most promising 

 developments of Porto Rican agriculture. (PI. II, fig. 1.) 



The beggar weed makes a fair growth, but does not reach the height 

 it does on the light sandy soils of Florida. It will, perhaps, do better 

 on the lighter soils of Porto Rico. In sandy soil on the north side of 

 the island it has made a very rank growth. It is somewhat damaged 

 by the same leaf hopper that troubles the cowpea. 



Velvet beans do well on the station grounds and do not seem to be 

 seriously damaged by insect or fungus pests. They do not make a 

 rank growth on the heavy clay soils at the station, and for a quick 

 growing crop are not equal to the cowpea. 



Alfalfa on soil properly drained and inoculated is a very promising 

 crop. The plat sown to this is now in full blossom three months from 

 seeding, and it is the best the writer has seen anywhere at that age. 

 Further observation w41I be necessary, but at the present it appears 

 to be a very promising crop for Porto Rico under proper conditions. 

 So far no insect or fimgus pests have developed. This crop has been 

 sown on a piece of w^ell-drained land near the river, which is largely 

 composed of clay and rather heavy for alfalfa. Our experiments on 

 heavy clay upland soils ha^^e resulted in failure. 



So far red clover, Japan clover, and Genge clover have not done well, 

 but further trials are advisable. Clover sown in the Tropics should 

 follow some hoed crop, and the ground should be fertilized with barn- 

 yard manure in order to get a quick stand. There are certain rank- 

 growing grasses that spring up so quickly that there is a tendency for 



