GUAM AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 11 



Communiciitious lui\e been .iclclressed to more than 50 foreign 

 agricultural experiment stations and American consuls in tropical 

 sections with the object of obtaining a large number of varieties 

 from climatically similar regions for trial at the station during the 

 coming year. Corn is a staple food article in Guam, and an 

 increase in its production will tend to lower the quantity of rice 

 annually imported for food purposes. Rice land here is limited to a 

 comparatively small acreage. Corn land, on the other hand, is 

 found in areas sufficient to feed more thaji the island's population if 

 properly handled. 



PARA GRASS. 



This gi-ass, Panicwm molle^ was introduced near the close of the 

 previous tiscal year, and during the past 12 months it has proved 

 one of our best forage crops where the soiling system of feeding is 

 practiced. The fii*st introduction of this grass was made in May, 

 1910, when 25 root clumps were received from the Hawaii Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station. So rapid has been the propagation that 

 several large wagon loads of roots have been distributed in addition 

 to material required for planting a plat of 1 acre on the station 

 grounds. At the close of the year the station had available plants 

 sufficient to plant another plat of 2 acres, and this ground was in a 

 state of preparation awaiting only the advent of favorable weather 

 when the planting could be safely made. Para grass grows rapidly, 

 sending out long runners in every direction, and these runners 

 coming in contact with the soil send out roots at the nodes, form- 

 ing new plants. Owing to this habit of growth, plants may be 

 set from 5 to 10 feet or even at greater distances apart, and under 

 favorable conditions a thick sward will be grown in a comparatively 

 short time. A^Hien planted at wide intervals early growth is of low, 

 trailing decumbent nature; but when the surface is once covered, an 

 upright habit of growth is assumed rendering the crop easily cut 

 and well adapted for soiling purposes. Many native owners of live 

 stock have commented upon the success of this grass at the station, 

 and a few have obtained and planted roots to supply feed for their 

 own animals. A supply of Para grass is kept constantly available 

 to meet, as nearly as possible, all demand arising for roots for plant- 

 ing. (PI. IT, fig. 1.) 



PASPALUM DILATATl'M. 



A tract comprising a little more tlian 1 acre was planted to this 

 grass early in the dry season, and it has fulfilled in complete measure 

 the success indicated in previous work. It with.stood the drought 

 of the past season without irrigation and furnished a good supply of 

 nutritious feed. Since this planting was made Para grass has de- 



