PORTO RICO STATtOK. 27 



in this condition for fifty-six di^ys, tlse pile being stirred daily. At 

 the ex})iration of this time the coli'ee was dried in the ordinary way 

 and hulled. Samples of this '"■ malted " coii'ee were submitted to a 

 number of persons antl their opinions requested regarding- the quality 

 of the beverage made from it. All reports were very favorable and 

 the ti'eatment seemed to improve tlie flavor to a marked degree, the 

 bitter taste so much complained of by many seeming to be whollj^ 

 removed. The results of this experiment are valuable, since they 

 prove that coffee can be kept in a wet state and allowed to sprout for 

 two months Avithout injury. 



With the rapid extension of sugar-cane planting a number of 

 problems relative to the use of fertilizers have been referred to the 

 ■station as the only source of scientific information on such subjects. 

 Carrying on experiments with cane is very expensive and the station 

 is not in a position to devote much attention to this crop except as it 

 works in cooperation with planters. A plan of experiments Avith 

 fertilizers has been devijsed by Avhich any planter can test the soil 

 requirements of his fields, and a number of the more pi'ogressive 

 planters are testing fertilizers under the direction of the station. 

 At the station a number of varieties of cane are being tested, among 

 them the more jn'omising seedling canes which were developed in 

 the British West Indies and a collection received from the Louisiana 

 Experiment Station. Some of these canes seem quite superior to 

 those now extensively planted. 



The station has demonstrated the possibility of the production of 

 lowland rice in Porto Eico, and a profitable crop is noAV offered when 

 for any reason land devoted to cane is to be rotated or some other 

 change is made in the present system of agriculture. 



Experiments with forage plants are being carried on, and cowpeas. 

 Florida beggarweed, and gandule or pigeon pens have all been found 

 to be valuable leguminous forage plants. A large V\^hite bean. knoAvn 

 as the sword bean, is being tested, as are also a numl)er of native 

 leguminous plants, in order to secure a better balanced nlixture of 

 green forage than is now available in the guinea grass and nudojilla. 



In cooperation Avith the insular goA^ernment the station is conduct- 

 ing investigations on some fiber plants, and over 100,000 sisal plants 

 haA'e been recently set out. Large additions to this plantation are 

 contemplated in the hope that this industry may be placed upon a 

 commercial basis as soon as possible. Experiments are also in prog- 

 ress in the introduction of the jipi-japa palm, from AAdiich the 

 farnoris Panama hats are made. Attempts are also being made to 

 reforest some of the barren hillsides Avith various tropical species, 

 and the necessity for windbreaks in connection Avith such plantings 

 has already been shown. 



