32 EXPERIMKNT STATION RIX'ORD. 



(iiltiviiliou as practiceil, and itt'ini/A'd staleuiciits of the cost of equiijnieiit and 

 liroduction of the crops, with the tinancial returns for several years. 



Annual report of the Porto Rico Experiment Station for 1907 [Field 

 crops], 1). W. May (I'ttrto liico Sta. Rpt. I'.KJJ, i>i>- ^-l.i, 16, 17). — A ijrief outline 

 of tlu" \v()r]< witii su^'ur cane, tobacco, Hl>i'r crops, and forage crops is given. 



The station has a number of seedling canes containing from If) to 10 per cent 

 of sucrose in the juice, wliile the avei-age content in tlie cane now grown on the 

 island is about K) per cent. These seedling canes are being distributed over 

 the island. Fertilizer experiments at the station seem to indicate the lack of 

 nitrogen in the soil, and infests to determine how best to supply this element by 

 the growing of leguminous crops the cowpea and the soy bean have given the most 

 jiromising results. The cowpea will mature in 70 days and can, therefore, be 

 grown between the rows after planting the cane and again after the last plowing. 

 Trials are also in progress as to distance of planting in cane production. In 

 this worlv the cane is planted in lots 5 by 5 ft. up to 10 by 10 ft., and also in 

 continuous rows. In the first crop the narrow planting gave the heaviest yield. 

 The figures for the rattoon cropt-, could not be given as these crops had not been 

 harvested. Planting the canes in lines and covering entirely with earth has, 

 where the changa is not too bad, proved a better practice than sticking canes 

 in the ground on end as is the us«al custom. Numerous suggestions in the line 

 of imi)roved cultural methods are given. 



Of the different fiber crops tested sisal seems to be the most promising. 

 Abaca grows well on the island but requires fertile soil, which fact prevents its 

 extension, as land suitable for it can be more prolital)ly employed in growing 

 other plants. The carludovica plant, which furnishes the fiber for genuine 

 Panama hats, has been introduced with a view to distribution. Sea Island cot- 

 ton is grown to some extent, but as a rule planters are hard to interest in cotton 

 growing. The cotton caterpillar is a great menace to the crop. 



(iuinea and malojillo grass are the main sources of forage. As forage crops 

 rich in protein, cowpeas and velvet beans have succeeded best at the station. 

 Alfalfa may be grown but is readily choked out by the vigorous native grasses. 



In notes on the fermentation of tobacco by O. Loew, it is pointed out that the 

 curing as well as the fermentation of this product is not so carefully conducted 

 in Porto Kico as in the I'nited States. It was observed in Mayaguez that the 

 temperature of re-piled bulks reached only 44.5° C, while such bulks in Florida 

 have reached 55 to 56° C. To prevent excessive after-fermentation in bulk the 

 bales of tobacco in some establishments are now made up in leaves of the royal 

 palm Instead of the porous burlap which admits too much air. It is also men- 

 tioned that wrapjier leaves grown under cheese-cloth when held under light 

 often show green spots after fermentation. 



Experiments with grain and forage plants, 1907, R. A. Moore, A. L. Stone, 

 and K. J. Delwiciie (Wisconftin »S7(/. Kpt. I'JOl, /*/>. ;iS(j-'iOS, fiyn- J). — At the 

 station 24 varieties of oats, 27 of barley, 4 of winter wheat, (5 of rj-e, and 1 of 

 buckwheat were tested. 



In the test with oats Joannette, a black variety, ranked first with 35 bu. 

 per acre, Kherson second with 33.7 bu., and Sixty Day third with 2S bu. 

 Joannette also ranked first in weight per measured bushel with 30 lbs. 



Oderbruck barley ranked first in the barley experiments with a production 

 of 48 bu. per acre. This variety and Manshury have been selected and dis- 

 tributed by the station and constitute at least one-half of the barley crop of the 

 State. Barley breeding work is carried on and of 10 different strains of 

 pedigreed barleys grown at the station this year sufficient seed of each was 

 secured to plant 2 acres in ]JX)S. Of 4 varieties of winter Avheat Iowa led in 

 yield with 2X.."! bu. ]ier acre, followed by .Minnesota No. G!>5 with 26.0 bu., 



