INSULAR EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 17 



vance the science of a<rricultiirc. A great national system of re- 

 search ak)ng; agricultural lines is actually established, but at present 

 this is almost wholly obscured by the confused and inadequate method 

 of publication of the scientific work of the stations. The need of a 

 better system grows more urgent with every year's advance of re- 

 search under the Adams Act. It is therefore earnestly hoped that 

 this matter will receive serious consideration at an early day, and 

 that active measures will be undertaken to remedy this glaring defect 

 in the system of scientific inquiry'' on behalf of agriculture. 



The Avork which is being d(me by the experiment stations abroad 

 is not only of general interest to similar Avorkers in this country, but 

 much of it is applicable to American conditions, either directly or 

 with modification. Through its relations with the foreign stations 

 the Office is in position to follow this work with increasing complete- 

 ness and to keep infonnecl upon the progress of other matters relat- 

 ing to these institutions. A quite large number of periodicals and 

 documents describing their investigations are now received in ex- 

 change for Experiment Station Record, and this has enabled the 

 office to become a clearing-house for the foreign work as well as that 

 of the American stations. 



INSULAR EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



A prosperous year is reported from each of the insular stations, 

 and the work of all is developing as rapidly as the resources will 

 allow. As a result of increased appropriations, new lines of work 

 have been taken up by the Hawaii and Porto Rico stations, and in 

 Alaska an effort is being put forth to develop the Fairbanks Station 

 on a sufficient scale to demonstrate the possibility of farming as a 

 vocation in that country. 



The work of the insuhir stations has been continued along tlie lines 

 described in ])revious reports. The policy of conducting investiga- 

 tions to bring about diversification of agriculture has been continued 

 as the most profitable one to pursue where agriculture is only 

 slightly developed, as in Alaska, specialized as in Hawaii and Porto 

 Rico, or primitive as in Guam. This policy requires much at- 

 tention to the introduct'on of new crops and the demonstration 

 of their adaptability and profitableness in the new regions. While 

 much of the work at each of the insular stations is of an elemen- 

 tary nature and is conducted with the idea of visual demonstrations, 

 yet at the same time fundamental problems are being given attention 

 and some of the work is of high scientific value. 



The various bureaus of the Department have been quite generous 

 in their assistance to the insular stations and it is desired to acknowl- 

 edge their cordial cooperation at this time. 

 46045°— 10 2 



