33 



points which may be emphasized are: Most of the common garden 

 vegetables can be grown successfully in most localities; vegetables 

 can be planted any time of the year, witli generally best success in 

 the ^\^nte^ season. This is not so much on account of the difl'erence 

 in temperature as that the excessive rains in the summer make the cul- 

 tivation dillicult. In the drier localities s])l('ii(li(l results are obtained 

 by irrigation. 



Although vegetable growing iu the Troj)ics is in many respects 

 similar to that in the Temperate Zone, some experience is necessary in 

 order to make market gardening or truck farming a success. 



The usual truck crops of the South can ])e i)rofitably grown in 

 l^)rto Kico for the northern market, some localities being more 

 favoral)le than others for certain crops. But by knowing the require- 

 ments of the desired croj) and choosing the right locality success is 

 reasonably certain. 



The diseases and insect ])est are ])raciically the same as those of tlie 

 southern part of the United States. 



MANGOES. 



Mangoes liave been experimenied with in odd moments tlu'oughout 

 the year, but on account of pressure of other v;ork and lack of skilled 

 help it has been impossible to devote much time to them. Large trees 

 have been top budded, using various methods. It was found difficult 

 to make a union and even more difficult t*^ force the buds. Much 

 valuable information has been obtained, however, as a guidance for 

 further work. 



Nineteen inarched trees have been received from the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Some of these were inarched into large trees 

 and some into 2-year-old stock, after which they were planted in the 

 orchard. The trees in the orchard, which are now 2 years old, from 

 seed average 6 J feet higli with a spread of 4i feet. (PI. IV, fig. 1.) 



Ten thousand seeds were planted in a nursery this summer. These 

 were brought in by boys and paid for at the rate of 50 cents per 1,000. 

 A large percentage did not germinate. Those v.'hich did germinate 

 were subject to a fimgus disease which destroyed more than 50 per cent. 

 One thousand seeds were soaked in a solution of copper sulphate (1 

 pound to 50 gallons water) for twelve hours and were then planted in 

 a seed bed, which had formerly been used for a vegetable seed bed. 

 Eighty to 90 per cent of the seeds germinated, but in less than two 

 weeks the plants began to die off. Both the plants and the soil were 

 sprayed with Bordeaux mixture every week, but very few plants sur- 

 vived. This disease is not destructive to plants after reaching the size 

 of a lead pencil, and it does comparatively little damage in sandy soil 

 free from vegetable matter. In Florida the trouble was overcome by 

 31207— No. 171—06 3 



