28 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



like Plymouth Korks and Wyandot tes. seem to do vory well. On 

 account of the scarcity of the usual feeds for stock, experiments are 

 bein<j: conducted on the cost and efliciency of a lar<j;e ran«ie of ma- 

 terials. It has been demonstrated that silage can readily be produced 

 from malojilla grass, cane tops, and corr.. The study of concentrates 

 is being continued and will be reported upon as the work proceeds. 



GUAM STATION. 



Following the appropriation by Congress of $5,000 for the estab- 

 lishment and maintenance of an agricultural experiment station on 

 the island of Guam, negotiations were begun to secure a suitable 

 site for the station. As stated in the previous report, no accessible 

 public land of the character desired was available, and it became 

 necessary to secure a tract from some private owner. It was con- 

 sidered inadvisable to purchase the tract originally selected, as the 

 price asked was believed to be exorbitant, and another tract near by 

 was selected. This belonged to Juan Torres, a resident of the island, 

 and in December, 1908, it was leased with the privilege of purchase. 

 This area consists of about 27 acres, located along the road from 

 Piti to Agana, and is so situated that it can be irrigated from the 

 Maso River without great expense. This stream forms the western 

 boundary of the land. The main portion of the tract is flat, of 

 good character of soil, and it extends into the low hills on the 

 south, where opportunit}^ will be offered for experiments in such 

 cultures as are adapted to the lighter hill soils. 



Work was begun at once in clearing and fencing the land, and 

 preparations were made for some experimental investigations. The 

 fencing material was shipped from San Francisco, and in erecting 

 the fence an experiment was undertaken in which temporary posts 

 were planted, and alternating with them young silk cotton trees 

 were placed for permanent posts. The clearing of the land proved 

 a difficult matter on account of the dense tropical growth and the 

 character of the plants found in the situation chosen for the station. 

 A considerable portion of the tract was cleared and fenced, and with 

 the first rains seeding was begun. 



A period of unusual drought was experienced in Guam early 

 in 1901), and as a result it was impossible to make much headway 

 with the planting. A number of investigations with forage and 

 other plants have been begun with seeds sent from this Department, 

 as well as some furnished through the Hawaii Exi^eriment Station. 

 The investigations during the past year were largely confined to 

 the grownig of Guinea grass. Bermuda grass, and three varieties 

 of sorghum. In addition the growing of leguminous plants between 

 the rows of forage crops is being tried. The forage plants thus far 

 tested have proved very satisfactory in spite of the prolonged 



