active measures of control; this pest, together with lack of food and water, often causes death to the animals.

The "night " mosquito (Culex pipiens). Noted under "Household insects;" a common disease of young fowls (Epithelioma contagiosum) locally known as "sore-head" is due to a parasitic fungus. One source of infection of this disease is undoubtedly through the wounds caused by the bites of this mosquito, the young chicks being unprotected by a growth of feathers.

HORTICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS.

The appointment of the horticulturist, Mr. J. E. Higgins, dates from October 3, 1903.

During the first month the work of preparing the exhibit of agricultural products for the St. Louis Exposition was completed. This consisted in packing, labeling, and indexing specimens of the varied agricultural products of the islands. The fruit and other perishable articles were shipped with no other packing than the preserving liquid in which they were immersed. They are reported to have arrived at St. Louis in good condition.

BANANAS.

A considerable portion of the work of the past eight months has been with bananas. This has been twofold in its nature; a search was made into the literature of the subject, which is quite scattered and fragmentary, and observations and investigations have been made in connection with bananas growing in these islands. The subject has been considered not only from the immediate commercial standpoint, but an attempt has been made to become more familiar with the numerous so-called "native" bananas and to make descriptions of them. This has been a work involving great difficulty. These varieties are scattered throughout the island group, and some of them are becoming exceedingly rare or almost extinct because of the ravages of cattle in the forests and the decadence of an agricultural class among the native Hawaiians. It is generally only the most aged who know anything of these relics of ancient cultivation. The difficulty is further increased by the frequent use of local names for these varieties, thus giving rise to many synonyms. Some of the native forms may prove of considerable commercial value in the future. A collection of over thirty "native" and introduced forms is now in the experimental plats and is being added to as opportunity offers. A bulletin containing the results of these researches has been prepared and is now ready for publication.

An importation of Bluefields banana plants (Jamaica or Martinique variety), which was received by the Territorial board of agriculture and forestry, has been cared for at this station. They are being propagated for distribution later and are at present making a very satisfactory growth.

THE MANGO.

The mango has received frequent attention throughout the year. Some thirty or forty varieties of the fruit have been collected and studied with more or less care. A few of these may prove to be of commercial value and many more are useful for home consumption. The grafting of the mango, when the art has become more generally learned, will doubtless make some of the superior varieties more common than they are at present, and will do much to establish a mango industry. This fruit is destined to take a prominent place in the great American markets. Successful experiments in budding the mango have been conducted by the horticulturist, showing that it is perfectly practicable to propagate it by this method in these islands.

A serious disease of the mango was found to be very prevalent in many parts of the islands, which has destroyed a large part of the season's crop. It attacks the flowers and the new leaves, causing them to turn black and die, and also disfigures the fruit. This was first studied at Hilo, where the horticulturist was engaged in field work in connection with bananas. From the very imperfect observations which it was possible to make under these conditions, it was concluded that the disease was probably due to a fungus attack. Specimens of the diseased parts were later forwarded to Dr. A. F. Woods, vegetable physiologist and pathologist of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, who reports that "the fungus, a Colletotrichum, is in fine fruiting stage in the cracked areas in the fruit and in the minute blisters on the twigs, but is less fully developed on the leaves." Through the kindness of Doctor Woods, the matter is being further investigated. During the following season experiments will be conducted in attempting to control the attack by means of fungicides.

CABBAGE ROT.

A field of cabbage which had been planted as a test of certain varieties was attacked by the black rot, a disease caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas campestris. The attack was very severe and afforded the opportunity to study the resistant qualities of different varieties. The results of these observations may be published later.

During almost the entire period while these plants were growing the weather was unusually wet. When the crop was removed the field was immediately prepared for replanting with cabbage plants, the object being to observe the effect of dry weather, since the wet season was then about at an end. Although the disease again appeared it was much less serious than during the rainy weather.

CACAO EXPERIMENTS.

During the last half of the fiscal year arrangements have been. made for conducting experiments in growing cacao. The climate of the Hilo district being better adapted to this culture than that to be found where the station lands are located, the experiments will be carried on there in connection with the agricultural work of the Hilo Boarding School and under the immediate supervision of this station. The work will begin at once.

AVOCADO PEARS.

During the past season thousands of avocado pears have been wasted or fed to stock. This has been the case for several years. These fruits, if placed in the American markets, would sell for large prices. That it is perfectly possible to place them at least in Pacific coast markets is beyond question. They have frequently been sent to San Francisco, and even greater distances, arriving in good condition. A very successful shipment was made from this station to Manila last season. A considerable shipment of avocadoes was made through the U. S. Department of Agriculture to New York. Most of the fruit reached New York in good condition and sold well upon the market. This experiment was in the nature of a preliminary one to test methods of packing, relative value of varieties for shipment, etc., and if a more extended shipment should prove equally successful, this will open up a new field for the distribution of this fruit.

When the art of budding or grafting these trees shall have been perfected there will be nothing to prevent the avocado from becoming an important article of export from these islands. There are many forms here of excellent flavor and texture and very fine in appearance. The season of ripening, with the different varieties, covers nearly half the year.

TRAVELING.

During the month of January, 1904, a trip was made to Hilo and the Olaa district and return. This occupied about three weeks, the

chief work being the study of bananas and advising those who had recently embarked in commercial banana growing. A similar tour was made of the west side of Hawaii in June, including several days spent at Pohakea in transferring the tobacco experiments from Mr. F. E. Conter, resigned, to Mr. C. R. Blacow. Other traveling of less importance has been performed from time to time as occasion demanded.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PORTO RICO AGRICULTURAL

EXPERIMENT STATION 1904.

By D. W. MAY, Special Agent in Charge.

INTRODUCTION.

The fiscal year 1903-4 is the second twelve months of the existence of the Porto Rico Experiment Station at its new location, Mayaguez. The farm purchased for the use of the station consists of an old sugar plantation which had been allowed to grow up to brush and grass through a number of years. The work, therefore, during this period has continued to be one largely of preparation. By means of an appropriation from the insular government this work of preparing the estate for experimental purposes has been greatly assisted. Unfortunately, however, it was not completed, and the Territorial legislature failed to appropriate anything for completing this work or for furthering certain experimental work that had been undertaken.

A number of changes occurred in the station staff during the year. Frank D. Gardner, special agent in charge, returned to the Bureau of Soils, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in May, and was succeeded by D. W. May, of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. J. van Leenhoff, jr., resigned and entered the Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. E. G. Bowersox has been succeeded as farm superintendent by E. F. Curt. E. C. Howe, clerk and stenographer, has been succeeded by Miss Jessie F. Springer. The position of horticulturist has been filled by the appointment of H. C. Henricksen, of the tropical laboratory of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Miami, Fla. Animal industry will be taken up by the special agent in charge, D. W. May. As soon as the funds of the station will allow a chemist should be added to the staff. This is necessary for the proper study of the soils, fertilizers, cave deposits of guanos, and other resources and products of Porto Rico.

BUILDINGS AND REPAIRS.

The plant house, a bamboo frame covered with cheese cloth, has proven unsatisfactory for the work, owing to its instability and to the fact that plants in this inclosure were kept too moist, causing damping off. A new plant house has been constructed of wood,