INSULAR EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 29 



drought, and as soon as other areas are available the forage-crop 

 plantings will be extended. The recent drought has emphasized the 

 necessity for the introduction of forage plants, as cattle and other 

 stock were forced for several weeks to live on the leaves and twigs 

 of trees. The drought also called attention to the urgent necessity 

 of extending agricultural production, as special importations of rice 

 and other foodstuffs were required to relieve the suffering of the 

 people. 



Immediately following the decision relating to the establishment 

 of the station in Guam, a considerable number of economic plants 

 were sent from Hawaii, and these have been planted and are re- 

 ported as growing vigorously. Among these are varieties of pine- 

 apples and avocados, the pineapples being of much better quality 

 than those already growing in Guam. The first avocados on the 

 island were a few trees that were sent to the governor of Guam some 

 five years ago. These flowered this year and the fruit produced is 

 said to have been of a very excellent character. The introduction 

 of this fruit and the improved varieties of pineapples will undoubt- 

 edly be of great benefit to the people of Guam. 



An experiment was begun to test the j)ossibility of converting 

 some of the savanna lands into arable tracts. These lands are quite 

 extensive and at present are covered with a coarse grass that has 

 no value except when very j^oung. At that time it is eaten to some 

 extent by stock but does not seem to be greatly relished. The experi- 

 ment consisted of planting leguminous trees {Leucmia glauca), with 

 the hope that they will either increase the fertility of the soil through 

 the well-known power of leguminous plants to collect nitrogen or 

 that through the shade produced by the trees it will be possible to 

 protect seedlings of more valuable species. If this experiment should 

 succeed, it will be possible to considerably extend the area under 

 cultivation or at least the wooded area of the island. 



Experiments have been begun with several varieties of American 

 field corn, comparing them with the variety commonly grown upon 

 the island. One of the most serious drawbacks to agriculture in 

 Guam is the difficulty of storing seeds. In the case of corn and 

 similar plants weevils are very abundant, and some experiments are 

 contemplated on the storage of grain. 



The coconut disease that threatened to be so destructive to the 

 leadiiig industry of Guam is being given attention. It is found that 

 this trouble is due to mealy bugs, and there have been introduced 

 from Hawaii a number of ladybirds, which, it is hoped, will nuite- 

 rially aid in combating this disease. Some experiments have been 

 begun in the planting of c()C(mut trees wnth the hope that means will 

 be found to hasten their development, so that the trees will begin 

 bearing several years earlier than is the case under the usual methods 



