1917] FIELD CROPS. 729 



the crop does not mature sufficiently early the next dry season to produce a 

 ratoon crop that season. Cotton planted June 22 was completely harvested 

 only 3.5 weeks before that planted December 7 following, the later crop matur- 

 ing more uniformly and producing a liigher quality ratoon crop. Cultivation 

 drirlng tiie rainy season proved impossible and weed control through the use 

 of an arsenical spray difficult because of almost daily rains. The June plant- 

 ing required eight pickings, extending over 3.5 montlis, while the later planting 

 required only three pickings, extending over but 3.5 weeks. Plantings made 

 at the end of the dry season were of low grade and weak fiber as compared 

 with the December plantings. The ratoon crop referred to required two seasons 

 for its production. 



Results obtained with Egyptian cotton in 1916 did not compare favorably with 

 tiiose secured in 1915, tlie difference being attributed to the date of planting and 

 tbe source of the seed, the 1915 crop having been grown from Hawaii seed 

 planted December 19, while tlie 1916 crop was grown from Arizona seed planted 

 December 27 — too late for seed from this source. 



The native methods of rice growing are briefly described and fertilizer ex- 

 periments witli rice reported. The highest yield, 1,087 lbs. of rough rice per 

 acre, was secured from an application of 95 lbs. of sulphate of potash. The 

 untreated check yielded 259 lbs. With acid phosphate and nitrate of soda used 

 alone the yield was 674 and 652 lbs. of rough rice per acre, respectively, while 

 with a complete fertilizer it was 783 lbs. In variety tests, Hawaiian Gold Seed 

 yielded 122 lbs.. See Miu 704 lbs., and Porto Rico 105 lbs. The two native rice 

 plats yielded 364 and 324 lbs., respectively. The imported varieties headed out 

 about three weeks earlier than did the native rice. The native rice and Ha- 

 waiian Gold Seed lodged badly, while the other two varieties showed very little 

 lodging. 



Limited tests with alfalfa indicated that it is adapted to Guam conditions, 

 although the results of an entire rainy season are deemed necessary for determi- 

 nation of its real value. Peruvian alfalfa has given the best results to date. 



Tobacco investigations included variety and fertilizer tests and studies on 

 the effects of shading and of lead arsenate treatment for the control of 

 Heliothis obsoleta. The highest yield per plant from the unshaded plats was 

 11.14 oz, from White Burley with fertilization, and the lowest yield 3.5 oz. 

 from Connecticut Broadleaf without fertilization. The average yield per plant 

 for fertilized and unfertilized plats was: Oronoco 7.2 oz., White Burley 9.7 

 oz., Connecticut Broadleaf 5.8 oz., and Connecticut-Havana 5.2 oz. Shaded 

 plants of White Burley and Oronoco gave an average yield of 48.6 per cent 

 less tobacco per plant than unshaded plants on the same plats. An increased 

 yield of 7.4 per cent was obtained with lead arsenate treatment. The unshaded 

 plants gave an average increased yield of 21.88 per cent with fertilizers and 

 the shaded plants an average increase of 10.1 per cent. 



Soil inoculation tests with cowpeas gave yields of 885 and 808 lbs. of grain 

 per acre, respectively, for inoculated and uninoculated fields, and 15,125 and 

 9,790 lbs., I'espectively, of green forage. Planting.s of cowpeas on a lowland 

 field yielded at the rate of 4.01 bu. of grain and 4,099 lbs. of green vines per 

 acre. Other leguminous forage crops tested included soy beans, pigeon peas, 

 jack beans, and velvet beans, the latter being deemed an especially valuable 

 grain and cover crop for Guam. In variety tests with velvet beans, the Florida 

 variety appeared to be best for grain production, yielding at the rate of 14.3 

 bu. of gi'aiu and 7.3 tons of green forage per acre in 1916 from plantings made 

 in June, 1915. Guam-grown Florida velvet beans yielded 11.4 bu. per acre as 

 compared with a yield of 9.5 bu. from imported Florida seed. 



