OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 211 



a wide field for work in these two lines. It is a recognized principle that a cane 

 field must be well prepared and a cane crop well cultivated and fertilized to secure 

 the best and largest yields, but with almost all other crops it is taken for granted 

 that the tropical climate will bring the plants to full fruition alone, without ade- 

 quate cultivation or the use of fertilizers. Water is poured on lavishly and the 

 sunshine and normal high temperatures are expected to do the rest. Problems in 

 soil cultivation, fertilization, drainage, and irrigation must be investigated in their 

 relation to other crops than sugar. 



Investigations in forestry are much to be desired, but these can not 

 be undertaken by the station without considerable increase in its 

 resources; and in any case, whatever investigations the station might 

 undertake in this direction should be done in cooperation with the 

 Bureau of Forestry. Regarding this subject, Mr. Smith makes the 

 following statements : 



Many of the native woods of this group are extremely valuable from a commer- 

 cial standpoint and a considerable trade in these woods, notably koa and sandal, 

 at one time flourished. I would recommend that the entire backbone of each main 

 mountain chain of each of the islands be set apart in forest reserves under the 

 Federal Government, in order that the native forests may be protected and pre- 

 served and that a modern and legal system of forest conservation may be carried 

 out. The sugar plantations all depend directly or indirectly on the wooded moun- 

 tain slopes for their water supply, and it is due to their owners that something be 

 done to check the further destruction of the native forests, and also to replant 

 large areas with trees (native and foreign) which shall in the future become com- 

 mercially valuable. 



Considering the variety of subjects for investigation, the annual 

 appropriation for the maintenance of the Hawaii experiment station 

 should be not less than $15,000. To properly equip it with buildings, 

 apparatus, implements, live stock, etc., a special appropriation of 

 $10,000 is very much needed. It was hoped that the legislature of the 

 Territory would follow the example of the other States and Territories 

 in supplementing the National funds for the maintenance and equip- 

 ment of the station, but though measures looking to this end were 

 introduced they failed to pass. 



Porto Rico Experiment Station. 



The first appropriation for agricultural investigations in Porto Rico 

 was made for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901. This appropriation 

 was $5,000 and authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to determine 

 the agricultural conditions existing in that island with special refer- 

 ence to the most desirable localities for agricultural experiment sta- 

 tions, as well as the subjects on which the agricultural people of the 

 island are in most immediate need of practical information, and how 

 this need can be most economically and effectively supplied ; but it 

 did not provide for the establishment and maintenance of an experi- 

 ment station. The preliminary investigation called for by this appro- 

 priation was made through this Office by Prof. S. A. Knapp, formerly 

 of the Iowa Agricultural College, and more recently engaged in agri- 

 cultural enterprises in southern Louisiana. He visited Porto Rico 

 during the summer of 1900 and made his final report in September of 

 that year. This report was transmitted to Congress and published as 

 House Doc. No. 171 (Fifty-sixth Congress, second session). It con- 

 tains a summarized statement regarding the climate, soil, and agri- 

 culture of the island, shows in what ways the experiment station 

 might benefit agriculture, and recommends the establishment of a 

 station as soon as practicable. Professor Knapp advises that the sta- 

 tion should give immediate attention to promoting the production of 



