410 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



GUAVA. 



The guava grows wild and often takes possession of the pastures. 

 It is manufactured into jelly and a paste, both of superior quality and 

 flavor, which command good prices in the States. The guava is a bush, 

 and the fruits ripen in August, September, and October. They are 

 relished by the cattle, and the numerous seeds being small and hard, 

 are not digested but are scattered about the fields and thus distributed. 



This fruit, by selection, pruning, and cultivation, can undoubtedly 

 be greatly improved in quality and productivity. It is one of the 

 fruits for which there is already an established demand, and one which 

 can be manufactured at home, thus giving employment to many, and 

 at the same time not requiring any transportation facilities other than 

 those now in operation. 



PINEAPPLES. 



Pineapples of fine size and excellent quality are grown in many 

 parts of the island. They do best on the sandy lands about the coast 

 or on the stony hill lands of the interior. They require good drainage. 



There are three principal varieties now grown: "Pan de azucar" 

 (literally, sugar loaf), "Carbezona" or "Porto Rican," and "smooth 

 cayenne." The first named is the sweetest but usually contains much 

 fiber, the second has a white meat, is subacid, and of pleasant flavor. 

 It is large and comparatively f rae from fiber. The third was probably 

 introduced from Florida but is not much grown. 



Pineapples are but little exported, but with proper facilities might 

 well become an important export crop. J3y the introduction of the 

 right sorts for canning purposes a cannery might be started and do a 

 good and profitable business. 



COCOANT7TS. 



Cocoanut palms grow best on the coral sands bordering the coast, 

 but often occur in the interior. (PI. XXXVI, fig. 2.) Those in the 

 interior, however, do not bear so earl} r nor so well. The coast condi- 

 tions, which combine a level, wet, sandy soil with the salt-laden atmos- 

 phere, seem to be the typical conditions for the production of nuts. 

 The trees are easily grown, and require but little care in the way of 

 cultivation. They begin to bear in from 5 to 7 years, and at 10 or 

 12 years of age often produce as many as 200 nuts per tree annually. 

 (PI. XXXVII, fig. 1.) The nuts are much used for home consumption 

 by the natives for " cocoa de agua," and are exported to the valuation 

 of about $10,000 annually. The cocoanut lands are limited in extent, 

 and might be used for the combined purpose of growing pineapples 

 and nuts. 



