14 GUAM AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



the strain of native hens for which immunity is claimed as the native 

 founthition to secure hardiness and a Plymouth Rock cock to give 

 size and imjiroved egg-lanng quahties. A pen of hens of this native 

 strain wll also be kept with a cock of the same strain with the ol)ject 

 of obtaining a larger stock of this type for further cross-breeding 

 work, and this test should disclose some facts relative to the disease- 

 resistant powers of the strain. Individuals of this type have dark, 

 slate-colored legs, a very dark skin, and are particularly distinguished 

 by an unusually black flesh. There is a wide range of variation in the 

 ])lumage of different birds, some having a sohd wliite, others a sohd 

 black color, and still others being Idack with either silver or golden 

 colored lacings on the neck feathers. The comb is poorly developed 

 and of a very dark or a distinctly black color. As a whole the strain 

 is mixed with few fixed characteristics, but some characters are 

 generally j)resent which point to the Black PoUsh as its probable 

 origin. Hens of an apparently related type but having a distinctly 

 blue ])lumage resembling to some extent the Blue Andalusians are 

 also common among native fowls. 



FORAGE CROPS. 



The need of nitrogenous feeding stuffs which can be successfully 

 produced on the island is keenly felt. Paspalum dilatatum furnishes 

 splendid pasturage and Para grass (Panicum raolle) yields an abmi- 

 dance of green feed for soilmg purposes. Both of these grasses are 

 signally adapted to conditions in Guam, being remarkably vigorous 

 gi'owers duruig the wet season, and, on the other hand, possessing 

 special drought-resistant qualities, rendering them valuable during 

 periods of extremely dry weather. The first acre planted to Para 

 grass after its introduction into Guam by this station has now been 

 cropped constantly for two years and is still yielding good crops. 

 The Paspalum has also been cropped for almost two years. This 

 grass was originally transplanted from the seed bed to the field in 

 rows 24 inches apart at intervals of 15 inches, and for two yeare it 

 has been overstocked during all seasons of the year. Trampling 

 when the soil is wet and muddy appears to have a tendency to spread 

 it, and a good growth now occupies the entire field, the original rows 

 being but indistinctly recognized among an almost solid growth of 

 this grass. Grass is not, however, wholly satisfactory as an entire 

 forage ration, and especially is this true in the management of milch 

 cows and young growing stock. Much more successful results than 

 are possible under the present system woidd be possible could the 

 ration of grass be supplemented with some nitrogenous forage. To 

 fill this want the peanut is the most promising crop that has been 

 under trial at this station. This legume not only produces good 



