Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-08
CONTINUE To BROADEN SCOPEOF
FEDERAL AGRONOMY DEPARTMENT

Although active work on some OF
the projects of the agronomy division
of the federal experiment station was
dropped temporarily to enable it to
concentrate its efforts towards better
ing the food production situation, the
annual report of c. A. Sahr, head OF
that division, shows the field Of work
of the division continually broadening.
THE work with rice and taro was
continued at Waiau, Oahu" says Mr..
Sahr in his report.
In relation to the aeration of soil
tests with rice, it is of interest to
note that the comparative differences
in yields of the aerated and nonaerat-
ed plants have grown considerably
less. Neither of these plants have re-
ceived either manure or fertilizer for
some time previous to the beginning
of the test. In these tests, in 1916,
the increase favoring nonaeration was
1877 per cent for the spring crop. 40
per cent for the fall crop and 81 GER
cent for the 1917 spring crop. A. in
previous tests at Waiau, Oahu, the
variety of rice grown is the Bezembo.'
Under the direction of the patholo-
gist, potatoes were planted at the
main station in the second week in
April, chiefly to obtain material for
pathological investigations. In a du-
plicate planting of the Burbank and
the Early Rose potatoes at the Tan
talus substation, an average yield per
hill of Al pounds was obtained with
both varieties.
These yields are very low and are
attributed to attack by mites in ad-
dition to dry weather conditions"
states Mr.. Sahr in his report.
In order to obtain cuttings to sup
ply the growing demand for propa-
gatory portions of reputable types of
the sweet potato, about five-eighths OF
an acre was planted to three varieties
of this root crop. In the selection of
varieties for this planting the deter
mining factors were medium early ma
turity and heavy foliage types report
ed to be quite resistant to attack from
the sweeL potato leaf miner
"A new variey of the pigeon pea
(Uajanus indicusy from India, seed OF
which was received from the Haiku
substation in 1915, has been tried out
with favorable results by this division.
This variety is not nearly so tall and
erect as are the varieties Of Porto
Rican introduction, but is much more
bushy in habit.
I'm maintaining records of yields of
various tests of alfalfa for a period
of 80 months, individual yields based
upon nine cuttings per annum are as
follows: Utah common, 80 tons green
forage per acre; Kansas Common, 284
tons per acre; Peruvian, 217 tons per
acre; Turkestan, 14.7 tons per acre
Be- ed upon the same number of cut
tings per annum for period of %
months with Grimm, Dr-land and
common alfalfa the individual yields
are respectively 266, 26.4 and 9.3
tons"
A variety Of results we're obtained
in tests with the Tepary beans Work
was done with the Polytrias prae-
mosa, Blue Couch, Napier, fuzzy top.
Australian Blue, and Natal red top
grasses. No new varieties of sor-
ghums of either grain or forage pro
ducing types were tried during the
fiscal year. The work of nut grass
control has shown decided results
from spraying with arsenate Of soda,
Two new varieties of cavassa, a
white sweet variety from Trinidad
and the red bitter variety common in
the islands were planted in the sum-