FIELD CROPS. • 133 



Tilt' l•«'^<lllts olitaiiH'il w itli yi-;isses :nul Lrraiiis at tlic ^:ta1ilpn ami liy pail i<'s liviiii,"- in 

 tliat si'ctioii ail' brieriy trivfii. 



Seeds of lic'ld an<l jj^ardt-ii croi)."! were (listril)u(r<l in all jiarts of llir tiTritdi-y, ami 

 the reports on this work are submitted. Tables are jiivcn f^howiuLC the snil (rniiiera- 

 tures at the different stations for eaeh day from May 1 to September, in( hisive, and 

 tlie meteorological observations made at the different points throughout the territory. 



Annual Report of tlie Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station for 1902, 

 J. G. Smith ( U. /S'. Dq>f. Agr., Office of Rrpcrlinod Stuliaus lijif. 1902, pp. ,309-.l.;(), j>h. 

 8). — The improvements made at the station during the year are briefly mentioned. 

 Experiments with taro indicate that the root rot of the crop may be prevented !)y 

 j)roper liming and fertilizing of the soil and by planting slips which are free from the 

 disease. A test was made of 45 varieties of potatoes to find a variety resistant to the 

 ])lack wilt disease. The seed potatoes were obtained from Maine. Only one variety, 

 the June, was entirely resistant to the disease. Two varieties were partiallj^ resistant, 

 while the rest were completely destroyed. The coffee industry is reviewed and the 

 culture of different fiber i^lants, including sisal, malina {Furcrxa gigaidea) and olona 

 { Touchardia lat'ij'ol'm) is described. An account of the occurrence and preparation of 

 olona fiber is given. 



Notes on the culture and growth of pinea})i)les, figs, papayas, guavas, mangoes, 

 alligator pears, grapes, limes, and peanuts are presented. The principal insect 

 enemies of Hawaiian agriculture are enumerated, and the work of the station in deal- 

 ing with this problem is outlined. Farmers' institute work in Hawaii is described 

 and climatic conditions of the islands are noted. 



Annual Report of the Porto Rico Ag-ricultural Experiment Station for 

 1902, F. D. Gardner ( T". S. Dept. Agr., Office of Experiment Siaiioiix Rpt. ]90:>, pp. 

 331-357, pis. 8, fig. l). — This report contains an account of the present status of the 

 station and a general review of the principal work for the year. The station farm, 

 together with its equipment, is described. The propagation of coffee plants from 

 seed was accomplished in seed beds protected by straw-covered sheds, and the young 

 plants were transj^lanted to continue their growth in nursery beds. An experiment 

 in improving old coffee groves has been begun and arrangements are beinc made to 

 test different varieties on a 25-acre tract of new forest land. 



Temporary field experiments were conducted at Rio Piedras with Held, garden, 

 and forage crops, and with flowering bulbs. The results are summari.;; d in a tal)le, 

 and the growth of the most important crops is briefly noted. Insect and jilant dis- 

 eases attacked the garden crops, in some instances causing total destruction. A good 

 stand of blue grass; was obtained, but so far nothing further as to its value under 

 Porto Rico conditions has l)een learned. Alfalfa gave some i)romise of success, and 

 cotton produced al)undantly, although the plants were small. Kafir corn and teosinte 

 succeeded well. The problem of combating insect enemies is discussed. Special 

 attention "is given to the changa, or mole cricket, and statements regarding its classi- 

 fication and distribution are presented. 



Attention is called to the soil conditions existing in the island, and the influence 

 of fertilizers is shown by the results of an experiment with sweet potatoes. The 

 average yield per acre from fertilized plats was at the rate of 14,478 lbs., or an 

 increase of 8,758 lbs. over unfertilized plats. The largest yield was obtained where 

 188 lbs. each of acid phosphate and muriate of potash and no nitrogen had been 

 applied. The soil upon whii'h the experiments were made was found to be acid, and 

 an application of 1,000 l])s. of lime per acre causeil a noticeable improvement in the 

 croj). 



Notes on the growth and culture of tropical fruits, and the value of forest reserva- 

 tions on the island are given, and meteorological records fitr 1899 to 1902, inclusive, 

 are shown in tables. 



