622 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Field work has ])ecn undertaken in Batang-a.s Province, at the 

 request and with the cooperation of General Bell, the object being to 

 demonstrate the practicability of using" American machinery, and the 

 growing of forage plants and certain staple crops, such as cotton, 

 tobacco, sugar cane, etc. , according to American methods. At Baguio, 

 on the island of Mindoro, experiments were made in the cultivation of 

 American vegetabl(\s and forage crops, and the location studied with 

 reference to the establisliment of an experiment station for the grow- 

 ing of extra-tropical crops and the possible site of a botanical garden. 

 This locality is thought to otter unexcelled advantages for experi- 

 mental work with plants, the climate admitting of the growing of a 

 great variety of tropical, su))tropical, and temperate-zone plants. 



The improvement of the native and cultivated plants of the islands 

 and the introduction of new kinds or varieties quite naturally sug- 

 gested itself as a profitable line of work. The bureau distributed over 

 18,000 packages of seeds, representing a great variety of field and 

 garden crops, to a selected list of 730 individuals to test their adapta- 

 bility, and is collecting seeds of the economic plants of the islands for 

 experimental cultivation with a view to improvement. A new species 

 of wild grape has been discovered in the island of Negros, which it 

 is thought may prove of great value for the ultimate development of 

 a race of grapes adapted to the region. The islands have heretofore 

 produced no grapes, except a very limited quantity g-rown in the city 

 of Ce})u. 



With the exception of the mango the fruits of the region have been 

 practically wholly neglected in the past. Such tropical fruits as 

 bananas and pineapples and the extra-tropical citrus fruits, are wholly 

 undeveloped in the islands, although the conditions of the soil and 

 climate are generally adapted to the growth of bananas and pine- 

 apples, and, in selected localities, to oranges and other citrus fruits. 

 "Improved varieties of orange and lemon brought from California are 

 flourishing both in the lowlands and in the mountains of Benguet, while 

 pear, peach, apricot, and plum trees have been successf ulh' introduced 

 in the latter region." 



An experiment station for the growing of rice upon a large scale 

 will be established near the center of the great rice-producing area, 

 extending from Manila to Dagupan. 



The fiber industry of the islands has received eonsideral)le attention, 

 and in addition to a report upon the fiber investigations, a preliminary 

 survey is noted of the soils of the principal region supplving Manila 

 hemp. 



One of the greatest drawbacks to agriculture in the islands at present 

 is the lack of draft animals. Rinderpest has been very prevalent and 

 destructive among the carabaos, or water bufl^aloes, which are the main 

 reliance for farm work, and glanders and surra have caused serious 



