20 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



At the last session of the letjislature, the old Spanish station, con- 

 sistintj of 7 acres of land and a few buildino;s adjoinino; the Porto Rico 

 Station, was turned over to the latter. This makes altogether 242 

 acree in the station farm. In the Tropics it takes more capital, labor, 

 and teams to cultivate land than in the Temperate Zone. The grow- 

 ing season extends throughout the year, and there being no frost to 

 clear the land, it cjuickly grows up to wild grasses when not tilled. 

 For this reason only a portion of the station farm has been planted. 

 The low grounds have all been tile drained and planted to various 

 field crops and vegetables. The high grounds have been planted to 

 fruits of various kinds, including citrus fruits, pineapples, etc., and 

 also cotton, cassava, sweet potatoes, broom corn, and cane. 



During the yenT 'Sir. O. W. Barrett, entomologist and botanist, 

 resigned to enter the U. S. Department of Agriculture. It is hoped 

 to fill this position at an early date, and also to add during the com- 

 ing fiscal year a chemist to the staff, and to build a chemical labor- 

 atory. No appropriation was made by the insular legislature for the 

 assistance of the experiment station and no outside fimds have been 

 received. The farm receipts have increased somewhat in amount, 

 exceeding $1,000. Cooperative work has been carried on with the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry and the Irrigation and Drainage Investiga- 

 tions of the Ofhce of Experiment Stations. The station has cooper- 

 ated with the insular authorities in the enforcement of a fertilizer law 

 passed by the last session of the legislature, and also in the enforce- 

 ment of a plant inspection law. 



The needs of the station are very urgent, as the work is developing 

 quite rapidly in several directions. It is very important that more 

 time be spent among the plantations investigating various troubles and 

 advising the planters. The station needs the services of an entomolo- 

 gist, but there is so much work to do in both entomology and plant 

 pathology that it would be advisable to have a man to follow up each 

 line of research. It is also highly important that a chemist take up 

 the stud}" of Porto Rican soils and the proper fertilization of the same. 

 There is also very much need that the waters used for irrigation pur- 

 poses be examined and analyses made of the deposits of guano found 

 in the man}" caves of the island. 



Two farmers' institutes were held during the year — one at Bayamon 

 and one at Rio Piedras. It is hoped to hold more during the coming 

 year in other sections. Many trips have been made through the 

 island by different members of the station staff in visiting the planta- 

 tions. It is very important that this work be extended, and it is 

 believed to be one of the best means of reaching the planters and 

 rendering assistance to them in their work. 



