ffiofeirrr of^B division of 



FORESTRY 



C0LVC6E OF«. AGRICULTU!?E 

 <»NIVCR3»Ty OF CAUFORNJA 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GUAM AGRICULTURAL 

 EXPERIMENT STATION FOR 1912. 



By J. B. Thompson, Special Agent in Charge. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The progress made during the year along the various lines of station 

 work has been generally satisfactory. The increasing public interest 

 shown by a steady growth in the number of inquiries concernmg agri- 

 cultural problems and by the rapidly multiplying number of applica- 

 tions made for seeds and plants not procurable elsewhere on the island 

 is especially gratifymg; and these mdications point to a growing confi- 

 dence in the value of the station work. The past year marks the 

 begiiming of the station's efforts toward live-stock improvement, and 

 the interest taken in this phase of the work may be gathered from the 

 service records of our breeding stock, which appear further on in this 

 report. Much, however, in the direction of arousmg interest is yet 

 to be desii-ed. Our experience in dealmg with the native planter indi- 

 cates that whUe he may become mterested in the production of a 

 new fruit or vegetable to the extent of obtainmg seeds or plants, it 

 generally requii-es true enthusiasm to lead him to plant and give proper 

 and timely cultivation. This is equally true m all Imes of agricultural 

 work and farm practices ; yet, making due allowance on this account, 

 the results actually obtamed are encouragmg. One of the most ap- 

 parent and readUy recognized examples of results obtamed is the 

 quantity of vegetables and other crops grown from seeds and plants 

 obtained at the station. Benefits very much more lasting, though 

 not so quickly manifest, will undoubtedly result from the distribution 

 of fruit trees of a perennial nature, the breeding of animals to the 

 superior breeding stock maintained at the station, and it is hoped 

 from the ultimate adoption in general of the better farm practices 

 demonstrated in the station work. 



IMPROVEMENTS. 



A small but conveniently constructed new residence building has 

 been erected on the station grounds during the latter part of the fiscal 

 year 1912, and was available for occupation at the close of the year. 

 This improvement not only furnishes respectable quarters for the 

 employees at the station, but also provides a home close at hand, 



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