156 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXI. No. 526. 



these officers were unanimously re-elected by 

 the association for tlie year 1904-05. 



I'ORTO RICO EXPERIMENT STATION.'' 



The work of the Porto Rico experiment 

 station has been considerably enlarged during 

 the past year, partly with the aid of an ap- 

 propriation of $2,700 made by the insular 

 legislature and nearly $1,200 received from 

 the sale of farm products. 



Many permanent improvements have been 

 made on the station farm. A small tile ma- 

 chine was purchased and drain pipes were 

 manufactured on the farm. Practically all 

 the river bottom or alluvial land on the sta- 

 tion farm has been drained. This is the first 

 under-drainage ever undertaken in Porto Rico, 

 and it is believed that it will not only greatly 

 enhance the producing power of the station 

 property, but will also serve as a valuable 

 object lesson to the planters of the island. 

 An experimental irrigation system has also 

 been installed on this farm. 



A preliminary survey of the principal to- 

 bacco districts of the island has been made by 

 a tobacco specialist in the employ of the sta- 

 tion, and a report on these investigations is 

 being prepared. 



The investigations on different methods of 

 pruning, shading and fertilizing coffee plants 

 have been continued. In an attempt to ex- 

 terminate the coffee-leaf miner by hand pick- 

 ing the leaves proved tlie impracticability of 

 this method of repressing this pest. The en- 

 tomologist of the station has also been investi- 

 gating the possibility of combating this insect 

 by means of parasites, and reports the dis- 

 covery of an effective parasite which, it is 

 believed, by cqreful propagation and distribu- 

 tion, will aid very materially in keeping in 

 check this insect, which is by far the most 

 serious enemy to coffee cultivation now upon 

 the island. 



A special study of the diseases of coffee and 

 other plants was made by the botanist of the 

 Connecticut State experiment station, who 

 was temporarily in the employ of the Porto 

 Rico station. 



* From the Koport of the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture. 



Much attention is being given to the propa- 

 gation of citrous fruits, especially with a view 

 of obtaining better stock for growing in the 

 orchards of Porto Rico. A bulletin on the 

 methods of production and marketing of 

 oranges, with special reference to Porto Rico 

 conditions, has recently been issued. A large 

 number of tropical fruits, including mango, 

 alligator pear, soursop, nispero, guava and 

 many others, have been brought together in a 

 tropical fruit orchard. 



The tea, rubber and cacao plantations men- 

 tioned in my last report are flourishing and 

 are being extended. Among the tropical vege- 

 tables which enter into the variety tests are 

 the yautia, taro, edible canna, arrowroot, cas- 

 sava, yams and sweet potatoes, all of which 

 have thus far done well. 



Experiments are being carried on with a 

 nunaber of fiber plants. Among these maguey 

 and sisal have thus far given very promising 

 results. The station has thus far conducted 

 no careful experiments with cotton, but the 

 industry has been extended throughout the 

 island to a considerable extent during the 

 past year, and the station officers report that 

 the results seem to indicate that it is possible 

 to profitably produce a medium grade of Sea 

 Island cotton in Porto Rico. 



The report of the Bureau of Soils on the 

 soil survey from Arecibo to Ponce, made by 

 that bureau in cooperation with the Porto 

 Rico station, has been reprinted in both Eng- 

 lish and Spanish for distribution on the island. 

 Several other bulletins and circulars in both 

 languages have been issued during the year. 



KKIHTEENTH SESSION OF THE MARINE 

 BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY, 1905. 



The eighteenth season of the Marine Bio- 

 logical Laboratory opens under favorable 

 auspices. For the first time the laboratory is 

 in a position to welcome investigators at any 

 season of the year; a large stone biiilding has 

 been purchased and equipped with heating 

 apparatus, running fresh and salt water, and 

 the usual laboratory supplies. Two private 

 rooms for investigators have been furnished 

 in this building and are ready for occupancy. 

 Mr. Gray, curator of the supply department. 



