44 



fields. All the plants are doing well, and some of them will give first 

 berries this year, but not sufticient to be able to show results or permit 

 of selection for future use. However, enough has been determined to 

 show the profitableness of improved cultural methods. Some of the 

 trees coming into bearing are yielding over 2 pounds per tree (PI. 

 VI, fig. 1), which is several fold above the average of Porto Rican 

 coffee. 



As predicted in the former report the crop of 1904 was a poor one, 

 not alone in the quality of berries harvested, but also in the weight 

 of marketable coffee obtained from the berries. The heavy blossom- 

 ing and favorable weather conditions of this year promise far better 

 results for the present crop (PI. V, fig. 2). 



The experimental work has now approached the end of the construc- 

 tive period. All the land necessary in the immediate future has been 

 put under cultivation and according to the growth of the young plants 

 different experiments can be taken in hand, while in the old groves the 

 experiments thus far begun have been continued and should show 

 results in the coming crop. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH NEW PLANTINGS. 



About 20 acres of virgin forest land have now been cleared and laid 

 out in 51 fields, 34 of which are assigned to experiments with coffee 

 and 17 to experiments with economic plants which may prove of value 

 to coffee growers (PI. VII, fig. 1). 



The cost per acre of preparing the land, planting with coffee, and 

 cultivation for one year was as follow^s : 



Felling forest and burning $11. 00 



Lining in, distances 7 by 7 feet 2. GO 



Making 888 plant holes 2 by 2 l)y 2 feet, at $10 per M 8. 88 



Filling of 888 plant holes, at $10 per M 8. 88 



Seeds and nursery beds for 88S plants ready hn- planting 5. GO 



Planting, transporting, etc., at $10 per M 8. 88 



Shade-tree seedlings and planting 1. 50 



Two hoeings, 1 foot radius in a circle around the tree, at $.5 per M each. 8. 88 



Four weedings, at $1.50 per M each 5. 32 



Total cost of 888 plants, corresponding to 1 acre, at theendcf 



first year 60. 34 



All figures given are for the locality of the substation, but may vary 

 somewhat in other sections in the island. 



IMPROVEMENT OF AN OLD COFFEE GROVE. 



Experiments of previous years on the improvement of an old coffee 

 grove was continued and the crop produced on each of the acre plats 

 under experiment was again ascertained. The results, as shown by 

 the crop of 1904, are as follows: 



