2 AGRICULTUBAL KESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 



and I earnestly recommend that provision be made by Congress for the 

 establishment of such a station in the Territory on a permanent and 

 efiBcient basis in accordance with the recommendations of the Director 

 of the Office of Experiment Stations, herewith submitted, and that an 

 appropriation be made for this purpose equal to that which is given 

 for the maintenance of similar stations elsewhere in the United States. 

 T have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



Jambs Wilson, Secretary. 

 The President. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Office of Experiment Stations, 

 Washington, D. C, Decembers, 1900. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on the agricul- 

 tural conditions in Porto Rico with special reference to the establish- 

 ment of an agricultural exijeriment station in that island. This inves- 

 tigation was made in accordance with the terms of the Appropriation 

 act for this Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, which 

 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to "investigate and report to 

 Congress on the agricultural resources and capabilities of Porto Rico 

 with special reference to the selection of locations for agricultural 

 experiment stations and the determination of the character and extent 

 of agricultural experiments immediately demanded by the condition 

 of agriculture in that island." As the agent to make this investiga- 

 tion. Prof. S. A. Knapp, formerly of the Iowa Agricultural College 

 and more recently engaged in agricultural enterprises in southern 

 Louisiana, was appointed special agent in charge of agricultural 

 investigations in Porto Rico and sent to that island about the middle 

 of June, 1900, with the following instructions: 



The following subjects should be included in your investigations: 

 (1) The general agricultural conditions existing in Porto Eico and the neces- 

 sary and feasible measures for the improvement of these conditions. 



(3) The lines of experimental investigations which should be undertaken in 

 Porto Bico, and especially those which should be undertaken in the immediate 

 future. As far as practicable, the scope, extent, and cost of the experimental 

 inquiries immediately demanded should be determined. 



(3) The locations suitable for agricultural experiment stations in Porto Bico, 

 including a main station with laboratories, farm buildings, and experimental 

 fields, and outlying stations, whose work shall consist of field, garden, and orchard 

 experiments and experiments with domestic animals. 



(4) The buildings, land, and equipment required for the proper maintenance 

 of agricultural investigations in Porto Bico on the plan indicated in section 3. 

 Careful estimates should be made regarding the cost of the buildings, land, and 

 equioment needed to inaugurate the work of the experiment station in the island, 

 with special reference to the sum required for these purposes during the fiscal 

 year ending June 30, 1902. The methods of acquiring real estate for the use of 

 the station should also be investigated. 



(5) The needs of the agricultural people of Porto Bico as regards information 

 on agricultural subjects, and the best means for supplying them with this infor- 

 mation by publications, oral instruction, and demonstration experiments, or 

 otherwise. 



(6) The desirability and feasibility of securing the cooperation of the residents 

 of Porto Eico in the conduct of experimental inquiries and the dissemination of 

 agricultural information; the desirability and feasibility of including instruc- 

 tion in agricultural subjects in the curriculum of the schools of Porto Eico. 



(7) The facilities for preparing, printing, publishing, and distributing in Porto 

 Bico circulars of inquiry and bulletins of information on agricultural subjects in 



