50 



AGEICULTUKAL. APPROPRIATIOX BILL,, 1924. 



planted. Xo C()Uii»rehensive experiments are possible without a trained agrono- 

 Jiiist and hurticulturist. 



The extension worlv, begun so auspiciously, has suffered on account of tfce 

 reduction in the appropriations. The work is maintained as well as possible, 

 but the numbers now in the boys' and girls' club have diminished greatly ami 

 the value of last year's pntducts is less than half tlie amount earne<I in I'Jil. 



The building situation at the station is unsatisfactory and new Ituildings. as 

 well as extensive repairs to tiie old (mes. are urgently needed. Buildings in the 

 Tropics, unless of concrete, deteriorate very rapidly, and the agent in charge 

 i"ei)orts .several hundreds of dollars of repairs as urgent. 



VIKGIX ISLANDS STATION. 



The Virgin Islands have just gone through a period of two years of deficient 

 rainfall. This has had a depressing effect on the agriculture of the islands, and 

 it has most seriously interfere<l with the experimental work of the statittn, as 

 there are no facilities for irrigation, and only meager supplies for the post and 

 other experimental work and for the live stock. The rainfall for 1920 was 

 only about 71 per cent of the normal, for 1921 about 65 per cent, and for the 

 first half of 1922 less than .lO per cent. There are no streams of consetjuence 

 in St. Croix, and rain water is almost the only source of supplies. The station 

 desires to concrete an area of about 10,0(X) square feet on a hillside of gradual 

 slope to .serve as a catchment basin to aid in filling a reservoir from which an 

 adequate water supply could be obtained for experimental work and for fire 

 protection. It is now catching rain water from a combined area of about o.CXX) 

 square feet, )>ut this is not sufficient in periods of light rainfall. 



A change in the officer In charge of the station was made during the past year 

 and .T. B. Thompson, formerly of the (Juam Station, is now in charge. The 

 work formerly conducted <<n an extensive .scale is being systematically reduced 

 and put (in a more definite experimental l>asis. Field work for crop i)roduction 

 is no longer attempted. r>efore the station was taken over, its main supixirt 

 was secui'ed in this manner, and it was ilifficult for the former agronomist to 

 change his methods. 



Crop improvement is an important part of the station's work, .sugar cane, 

 corn, and sweet potatoes being extensively experimented with. A variety of 

 sugar cane, C. S. 12/4, originated at the station, continues to be the best for 

 planting on certain types of soil. "With the arrival of the new head of the 

 station, experiments in vegetable production were taken up. As has been 

 repeatedly pointed out, there is a scarcity of fruits and vegetabU'S in the 

 Virgin Islands. Plantings were made from September to Dei^'ember of a 

 large number of vegetables, and satisfactory results were obtained with «iuite 

 a large number of kinds and varieties. Insect pests wei'e trouble.some and 

 plant diseases caused loss, l)ut experiments are in progress to control these 

 sources of trouble. Some of the experiments wore carried through the summer, 

 )>ut the entire experiment is to be repeated this fall in the hope that definite 

 .suggestions for planting can lie made. 



The entomologist has made a study of the insect pests of cotton and truck 

 crops and has prepared bulletins on the principal pests and their control. Ou 

 accomit of the presence of the pink boUwmm in St. Croix, the growing of cotton 

 has been abandoned temporarily and all cotton jdiuits on the island have bcH'ii 

 destroyed. It is exitected that no cotton will be grown for at least two years, 

 by which time it is hoped the insect will have been starvetl out. 



Next to the production of sugar, stock raising is the most important agricul- 

 tural industry of the Virgin Islands. The present race of cattle is a mixed type 

 bred maiidy for work jturiioses. .V study has lieen begun of the station ani- 

 mals with a view to their imi)rovement. Attention will be given not oidy to 

 the production of work animals, but an attempt will be made to impn>ve the 

 dairy (pialittics of ctutain promising strains now jiresent. 



There is great need for some kind of extension work on the islands. The 

 former glory and importance of the harbor of St. Thonms has passi«d, and 

 transshiiiping and supplying vessels no longer furni.sh as uuich employment as 

 in the jiast. Aside from tho.se working In the cane fiehls, tln> p(>ople aiM>car 

 quite ignorant of agriculture and ganlening, and they need instruction In the 

 elements of food jiroduction. Some pn-lindmiry work in pirden demonstration 

 was begun on St. Thomas last season. l)Ut as the agronomist was compelled to 

 return to St. Croix and <-(Hdd not revisit St. Thomas for several wm>ks the 

 experiment was a failure through a lack of understan<llng of the necessity of 

 further work in the i-ultivation of the sfM-i-.d crops. 



