350 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



tried. Fertilizer experiments showed that a much better growth was made where a 

 heavy dressing of caustic lime was applied. This was especially apparent on raw 

 peaty soil seeded to common oats. Where a ton of caustic lime was applied "per 

 acre, together with 300 lbs. of muriate of potash, a uniform and fair growth of oats 

 was obtained, while on the plats receiving the muriate of potash alone the plants 

 turned yellow and died. 



Work at Kenai Station. — The progress of work at Kenai is reviewed and notes on 

 the results with the different crops are given. The use of 300 lbs. of superphosphate 

 per acre in connection with growing cereals gave a much more even, uniform, and 

 rank growth and a heavier yield than the same crops on unfertilized soil. A plat of 

 common oats protected on all sides by timber stood from 40 to 48 in. high, while a 

 similar plat fully exposed to the inlet winds reached a height of only 30 in. Of sev- 

 eral winter grains tested winter wheat and Excelsior rye survived the cold season. 



The milk produced by each cow of the station herd is recorded. The best cow 

 produced a total yield of 5,437.5 lbs. in a milking period of 268 days. 



Work at Copper Center Station. — At Copper Center numerous varieties of barley, 

 oats, wheat, vegetables, and grasses were grown. Sixty-day and Finnish Black oats 

 matured in part, but the wheats did not ripen. Barley, which generally ripens, also 

 failed to mature this season, but the several varieties gave a good crop of hay. Man- 

 churia, Lapland, and Mansury barley came nearest to ripening. The yields of differ- 

 ent kinds of grain cut for hay ranged on unfertilized land from 763 to 1,907 lbs. 

 per acre, and on fertilized land from 2,343 to 5,085 lbs. Of the grasses, timothy 

 matured seed, while the seed of redtop, blue grass, and meadow foxtail was about 

 matured August 15. The results of fertilizer tests again showed that newly cleared 

 land is less productive than land which has been under culture. 



Work at Rampart Station. — Barley and oats matured this season at this station, 

 while at Copper Center, in a latitude of 3° 30 7 farther south, the same varieties were 

 killed. The general progress in the establishment of the station is described. 



Cooperatur experiments on Wood Island. — Five varieties of barley sown April 18 

 gave promise of ripening, while 3 varieties of oats made a good growth but did not 

 mature. Timothy grew 3J feet high and produced long full heads. A lew reports 

 of the results of the seed distribution in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Indus- 

 try of this Department are reproduced. 



Daily records of soil temperatures at Sitka, Kenai, and Copper Center and meteoro- 

 logical records from several stations are given in tables. 



Annual report of the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station for 1904, 

 J. G. Smith (U. S. Dept. Agr., Office Expt. Stas. Rpt. 1904, pp. 361-382, pis. 2).— A 

 general review of the activities of the station during the year is given and the results 

 of investigations are reported. 



An experimental crop of tobacco grown in 1904 produced about 1,000 lbs. of cured 

 leaf, exceedingly variable in quality. Deli, Florida Sumatra, Java Sumatra, Connec- 

 ticut Broad Leaf. Vuelta Alia jo, Connecticut Havana, Florida Havana, and Spanish 

 Zimmer were grown. The quality of the Cuban type was uniformly much better 

 than that of the Sumatra. The crop was grown on new land in an untried locality, 

 and numerous delays interfered with the work. The results indicate that the tobacco 

 of this region colors well, tends to run to the dark shades, is likely to be mild in 

 flavor, and has a good burn. More definite results are expected from the second 

 season's work. 



Chemical work for the station is outlined by the chemist, and a partial list of the 

 injurious insects of Hawaii is presented by the entomologist, The horticulturist 

 gives notes on the culture of the banana, mango, cacao, and avocado pear, and also 

 on the black rot of cabbage. Successful experiments in budding the mango have 

 shown that it is perfectly practicable to propagate it by this method in the islands. 



