^6 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



found growing near JMayaguez, and the other, a perfect navel orange, 

 Avas found near Penuehis. Both of these are being propagated at 

 the station. 



The station collection of pineapi^les contains about two dozen vari- 

 eties, all of Avhich fruited this yeai". Further observations Avill be 

 necessary on a number ol" these before specific recounnendations can 

 be made. A variety from Jamaica, the Euby, proved one of the 

 most promising of introduced sorts. It is a highly colored fruit 

 of excellent (piality, and it will doubtless prove a valuable acquisi- 

 tion. A variegated form of the variety Cabezona which was found 

 near Lajas is being propagated and will l)e distributed under the 

 name Variegated Lajas. It is brighter in color than the Variegated 

 Cavenne and not onlv the leaves but the fruit also show the varieo-a- 

 tion, making it valuable for decorative jnirposes. ' The collection of 

 pineapples at the station emphasizes the variation and instability 

 of varieties of this fruit and the lack of certainty in varietal names. 

 An exchange of plants with others of the West Indies has shown 

 great confusion in the varietal nomenclature, and only by a ])rolonged 

 study v\i]l it be possible to definitely determine some of the types. 

 Experiments in sliipping pineapples were nuide during the past 

 season, and it was found possible to get them to New York markets 

 in good condition with the present inadequate transportation facili- 

 ties, Avherc care was exercised in packing and handling. A\'ith l)etter 

 methods of transpoi-tation the shipment of fresh fruits to New York 

 and neighboring markets should be very profitable. The propaga- 

 tion of mangoes, avocados, and other tropical fruits is being })ushed 

 as fast as i)ossible. 



The coffee investigations have been continued along the lines of 

 impr()\<'(l methods of ciillix ation. (lie use of ftM'tilizers. hybridiza- 

 tion, etc. The station has shown the ad\aiilage of the coffee seed 

 bed and nursery in the establishment of new i)lantations, and the pos- 

 sibility of more than doubling the yield per tree by pruning and the. 

 application of fertilizers. The station has a large number of varieties 

 of cofl'ee under observation to determine whether any seem ada])ted to 

 Porto Kican conditions. The TTnited States trade does not seem to 

 take readily to the Porto Kican cofl'ee, and if any of llic bctliT laiowu 

 high-])i'iced coflees i)ro\'e piomising an attenqM will be made to ex- 

 tensi\('ly introduce tlicui into I'orlo Ivican culture. 



An exjjeriment of considerable importance was undertaken during 

 the past year in malting coffee. It not infre<i|uently ha])pens that 

 rainy weather occurs at the time of the colVee harvest. ^^'heI•e no 

 artificial means for cui'ing coll'cc arc :it hand the vmp may be lost 

 through lack of drying. I'he wet cotlcc Ix'gins to s]U"out and the 

 eft'e<'t of sprouting on the (|uali(y was in\(>stigated. In December, 

 190r). fermented ;ind washed coU'ec \\;is thoroughly wetted antl kept 



