PORTO RICO EXPERIMENT STATION. 383 



a coffee plantation, with the object of improving methods of growing 

 coffee in Porto Rico. This consists of an attempt to improve the yield 

 and quality of coffee by selection, breeding, and propagating, and in 

 restoring old groves by removing part of the shade and thinning and 

 pruning. Investigations have also been begun to discover means for 

 combating certain troublesome insects, especially the "changa," a 

 kind of mole cricket, and various scale insects, and the fungus diseases 

 affecting citrus fruits. 



The Bureau of Soils of this Department, in cooperation with the 

 station, has undertaken a soil survey of a portion of the island. A 

 considerable number of different kinds of vegetable seeds have been 

 distributed to farmers. The beginning has been made of a collection 

 of improved farm implements and machinery of the kinds adapted to 

 the tropical agriculture of the island. In this work the station has been 

 greatly aided by different manufacturers in the United States. It is 

 believed that in this way useful information regarding improved imple- 

 ments will be disseminated by visitors to the station. 



The organization of a regular station staff has been begun, the force 

 now including the special agent in charge, the entomologist and bot- 

 anist, and farm foreman. 



It is hoped that land ma} 7 be obtained for the permanent location of 

 the station in the near future and that it will be possible to greatly 

 develop the work of the station during the coming year. Considering 

 the large agricultural interests of the island and the variety of work 

 which needs to be done by the station, the appropriation for its sup- 

 port by Congress should not be less than $15,000 per annum. In 

 addition to this, money will be needed for the purchase of land, erec- 

 tion of buildings, and equipment of the station. The station will, 

 therefore, need such financial assistance from the Territory of Porto 

 Rico as was given in the other States and Territories. 



There are no results of experimental work to be reported at this 

 time. This report is, therefore, chiefly confined to a statement of the 

 agricultural conditions and needs of the island as seen b} 7 the writer 

 in the course of such an agricultural surve} 7 as he has been able to 

 make in the space of nine months. 



AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES OF PORTO RICO. 



LOCATION AND EXTENT. 



Porto Rico is situated between 65£° and 67i° east longitude and 18° 

 and 18£° north latitude. It is therefore approximately 5° south of 

 the Tropic of Cancer or well within the Torrid Zone. It is roughly, 

 11° east and 22° south of New York City, or 12° south by 24°east from 

 New Orleans. The air-line distance from the island to New York City 



