604 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.38 



planting in the spring of 1918, and the immediately necessary build- 

 ings had been erected. The experimental field work will be begun 

 this season. In the meantime, the cooperative work with settlers 

 will be continued, not only to obtain data but to demonstrate what 

 food crops can be produced for local consumption. Local markets, 

 due to the railroad constructon, are available, and every effort is 

 being made to stimulate the production of those crops that experi- 

 ments have shown can be reasonably expected to succeed. 



The line to be immediately taken up by the station is that of adapt- 

 ing agriculture to the near-by valleys. Efforts will be made to test 

 various field and garden crops and through breeding experiments to 

 improve their adaptability to the region. Later it is expected to con- 

 duct experiments with live stock, as it is believed the valley where 

 the station is located is well adapted to dairying. 



The work in Alaska has been under strictly pioneer conditions 

 such as are rarely to be found at present in continental United 

 States. There has been little to guide since so little had been done 

 in the way of personal effort and so little confidence was felt in the 

 possibilities of agriculture. It has been necessary therefore to de- 

 termine the prospects for crop production, in addition to working 

 out ways and means, which constitutes the main field of the experi- 

 ment station. From the data now on hand it is believed possible 

 to recommend with a fair degree of confidence the crops and vege- 

 tables that may be expected to succeed in all the more important 

 agricultural regions. 



In Hawaii, the problem chiefly demanding attention on the part 

 of the station has been that of diversifying agriculture. No work 

 has been done on the leading agricultural industry, sugar produc- 

 tion, but much effort has been expended in trying to develop minor 

 crops and thus to aid in establishing a peraianent type of citizenship 

 cm the land. Much of the best agricultural land is held by estates 

 or under lease to corporations, but there is abundant land for in- 

 dividual holdings if properly administered. 



As the Hawaiian Islands are of volcanic origin, their soils present 

 some rather unusual features, and soil studies have formed an im- 

 portant part of the station's work since its establishment. Surveys 

 have been made of many of the more important soil types and their 

 physical and chemical characteristics determined. In many of the 

 soils a high manganese content is found, and such soils are adapted 

 only to certain crops and special methods must be followed in hand- 

 ling them. 



In connection with rice culture, which was an important industry 

 when the station began its work, a study was made of the application 



