Pathological investigations.-The plant-disease investigations of the station were confined largely to the diseases affecting the more important agricultural crops of the islands. The preliminary results of the study of some of the local root-rot problems are especially important, in view of the fact that the root-rot organism particularly studied seems to be the cause both of the Lahaina disease of sugar cane and also of the wilt disease of pineapples. This organism, or group of organisms, are most important, affecting, as they do, bananas, rice, and taro, in addition to pineapples and sugar cane. An experiment in connection with the control of taro rot was inaugurated on Molokai in cooperation with the Bernice P. Bishop estate. The banana freckle spot disease continues to be a matter of serious concern to the banana industry, but there appears to be no doubt that proper soil sanitation, pruning, and spraying with Bordeaux mixture will materially reduce the damage to the fruits..

Haiku substation.--The Haiku substation was inaugurated in 1915 to assist in the solution of the problems of crop production confronting the new homesteaders of the Haiku district. The results obtained to date appear fully to have justified its existence and continuation.

One of the most important points which the work has emphasized is the importance of organic matter in the soil. On one field three successive crops of green-manure crops were plowed under before it was possible to notice any result. Then the soil began to show its possibilities. It first yielded corn at the rate of 56 bushes per acre, then 64 bushels, and finally at a rate of slightly over 100 bushels of shelled corn per acre. The adjacent section of untreated land averaged 37 bushels for the three years. It was also found that green manures are not enough for the soils in question, but it is necessary to add phosphate fertilizers to the land if the high yields are to be maintained.

Pineapple experiments. In an experiment to determine how best to apply lime it was found that 18 tons of pines per acre were obtained where 3,000 pounds of lime were applied 30 days before planting, as compared with 15 tons where the same quantity of burned lime was applied immediately before planting. Where no lime was applied 16 tons of pines were obtained. In another experiment various quantities and forms of lime gave a yield averaging 20 tons of pines per acre, as compared with 18 tons for the portion of the field receiving no lime in any form. Jack-bean vines turned under brought a yield of 19 tons per acre, as compared with 13 tons for the adjoining check plot, while pigeon-pea vines turned under green induced a yield of 20 tons, as compared with 18 tons for the check plot alongside. Pineapple slips slightly stripped and planted immediately after gathering gave a yield of 19 tons of fruit per acre, as compared with 15 tons for slips allowed to season for several weeks, as is the customary practice. Level culture brought a yield of 16 tons per acre, as compared with 13 tons per acre for ridge culture.

Experiments with corn.-The introduction of improved varieties of corn and the determination of the best fertilizers and cultural practices has continued to be an important project. The area planted to corn in the islands has now risen to more than 10,000 acres. This places corn third in importance as a field crop, being exceeded only by sugar cane and pineapples. Until recently rice has occupied third place as regards acreage and even now probably

slightly exceeds corn in total annual yield of grain. The acre yields of corn have risen during the past three years from about 35 bushels per acre to 38 bushels, due largely to the introduction of higher yielding strains which have been almost universally adopted.

Experiments with root crops.-Root crops, such as cassava, edible canna, yams, and sweet potatoes, are of great potential importance to the Hawaiian Islands. These crops are all adapted to the commercial production of starch, and the residue after the starch is extracted forms a very important addition to the stock feeds which can be mixed from island-grown products. In the meantime, before the starch-production activities assume considerable proportions, the entire roots can be converted into feeding stuffs for various classes of live stock, especially work animals and dairy stock.

Experiments with legumes.-The Biloxi variety of soy beans has proven to be the best soy bean for the conditions under which the soy-bean variety tests have been conducted. It has produced as high as 20 tons of green forage per acre. The pigeon pea, however, continues to attract the most attention from stockmen. There are now approximately 1,000 acres in the Haiku district alone, and as much more land is being planted. It is of great promise as a pasture crop in addition to its other uses. Under favorable conditions it appears possible to pasture two or more head of mature cattle the year around on an acre of this crop. It is thought as a result of a preliminary survey that there are nearly 50,000 acres throughout the islands that might profitably be devoted to this crop as pasturage. The acreage might be doubled were the sugar plantations to adopt it as a rotation crop on their fallow cane lands.

Coarse grass forage plants.-Napier or elephant grass, Merker grass, and Uba cane have all given good results as green forage plants. In favored places as much as 100 tons of green fodder have been cut from elephant grass plantings during a single year. This grass requires nearly a year to become well established, after which it may be cut every six weeks under favorable conditions.

Haleakala demonstration farm.-It has been deemed especially important that there should be definite experimental data at hand in connection with the new homestead tracts that are being opened up for settlement. A new substation at the Haleakala homestead tract on the island of Maui has recently been inaugurated in cooperation with the Territorial government, which has just finished the erection of a $5,000 set of farm buildings. The farm itself is a homestead unit and is made practically self-supporting.

PUBLIC WORKS.

ISLAND OF OAHU.

General. In the Capitol Building considerable work was done in renovating the walls and repainting the woodwork in the various offices and second-story hall.

The United States internal-revenue offices moved from the basement of the Capitol Building to larger quarters down town and their rooms were renovated and taken over by the hydrographic bureau of the land department.

During the taking of the 1920 census of the Hawaiian Islands the census director and his staff occupied the senate chamber for their offices, the necessary furniture being loaned to them by the public works department.

Some minor repairs were made on the buildings of the powder magazine on Sand Island and the track leading from the wharf.

Investigation, hydroelectric plant, Kalaupapa, Molokai.-An appropriation of $2,500 was made available by Act 87 passed by the 1919 legislature to be used for making an investigation and report upon the cost of installing a hydroelectric plant and increasing the water supply of Kalaupapa. The engineering work such as making the surveys and plotting the field notes, has been completed.

Two gauging stations at different elevations have been established in Waikolu Canyon by the bureau of hydrography in connection with this investigation for the purposes of measuring the flow of water over a period of practically two years. From these readings covering this long period the probable flow of water can be closely estimated that will always be available for running a hydroelectric plant and for increasing the present supply of the settlement of Kalaupapa, for fire, domestic and irrigation purposes.

Normal training school. The work of construction is now well under way, all the excavating having been performed by prison labor under the direct supervision of the public works department. When required all back filling and grading will be performed by this same

means.

The design of this building provides for a two-story and basement structure 47 feet 10 inches by 92 feet 8 inches with a kitchen, dining room, sewing room, teacher's room, emergency room, toilet, office, two storerooms and hall on the first floor, and eight class rooms on the second floor.

For the present the basement will be left as one large room to be divided later into shops for manual training.

Gasoline and oil tank installations.-During the past year a large number of gasoline and crude oil tanks have been installed on the various islands. The Associated Oil Co. during the year moved its entire plant from the old site to a new site much closer to the harbor front. The Shipping Board have acquired this vacated site and are now erecting their plant on it.

The department required that both of these plants be entirely inclosed within a concrete retaining wall of ample height and strength to impound the entire contents of the tanks in case of accident.

In the Iwilei district of Honolulu the gasoline and fuel-oil plants have increased to such proportions that the department considers it absolutely necessary that all such plants should be so inclosed in order to protect the harbor and other adjacent property and this policy will be rigidly carried out.

Boys' industrial school.-Plans and specifications were drawn by the department for an eight-room frame bungalow 38 by 40 feet, with stone foundation, for the superintendent's residence. A contract was let for the material only for this building, and all the labor was performed, as far as possible, by the inmates under the direction of competent mechanics. All the millwork, except sash and doors, was run out in the school's own shops.

Kanoa estate fill.-This fill, comprising approximately 79,715 square feet, on land condemned by the board of health, has been completed during the year.

School for defective children.-Complete plans and specifications were drawn and construction supervised by the department for the department of public instruction for a school building for defectives at Waikiki, Honolulu. The design of this building is of the frame bungalow type, well adapted for this climate, 32 by 50 feet, with two large classrooms, with the necessary closets and hat rooms, and an 8 by 44 foot lanai.

Home for feeble-minded persons.-The department is now preparing plans and specifications for a group of buildings, to be located at Aiea, Oahu, for a home for feeble-minded persons. The sum of $60,000 was appropriated by the 1919 legislature for the establishment of this institution. The site selected has an elevation of approximately 700 feet, an area of 600 acres, with a fine mountain and marine view, and allows for expansion, if necessary. The Honolulu Plantation has agreed to furnish water for this institution at an elevation not to exceed 700 feet and construct a coral road to same.

Pupukea-Paumalu pipe line.-The department prepared plans and specifications and tenders were called to construct a water pipe line to supply the 123 Pupukea-Paumalu beach lots recently sold by the Government at public auction. The pipe line is connected to the concrete reservoir at the boys' industrial school as the source of supply. The mains are composed of 8-6-4 inch redwood wire-wound stave pipes and 2-inch galvanized-iron pipes making a total length of 20,120 feet.

New laboratory building, University of Hawaii. The department is now preparing plans and specifications for a new two-story and basement laboratory building for the University of Hawaii. The building will be 63 feet wide and 132 feet 3 inches long and reinforced concrete throughout, including the floors and roof.

Waikiki reclamation project.-The most important work that has been carried on by the department of public works during the past fiscal year has been in acquiring the rights of way for the main drainage canal and adjacent boulevards, the park strip mauka of the mauka boulevard, and in making the necessary surveys and establishing the permanent grades for the first unit of the Waikiki drainage and reclamation project.

There has been a tremendous amount of detail work in connection with acquiring the necessary rights of way, and in many cases it has been very tedious work to locate the real owners. A great deal of the land is under lease mostly to Chinese rice growers and has been in their possession for many years.

In addition to acquiring the rights of way for a canal 150 feet wide with a 75-foot boulevard on each side, the idea was conceived to acquire an additional strip 500 feet wide directly mauka of the mauka boulevard and extending from McCully Street to Kapahulu Road, which will not only provide a source from which additional filling material may be obtained if required, thereby creating some beautiful lakes, but will in addition provide available schoolhouse sites, which will be greatly needed as this district builds up, which

it is sure to do when the land is reclaimed, and will also be joined to and become a part of the Kapiolani park system.

To date the total cost of acquiring the fee to the land, leaseholds, etc., is as follows:

Total cost of land__.

Total cost of leaseholds.

Grand total

$52,926

2,641

55, 567

From present indications all the necessary field work and plotting, establishment of grades, all properties with descriptions and amount of fill on same, will be accomplished early this autumn for the drainage and reclamation district No. 1, which is that area included within the following boundaries: On the north and west by the makai boulevard, on the south by Kalakaua Avenue and the sea, and on the east by Kaiulani Street.

When the above work is finished, the board of health will be requested to condemn the lands lying within the area as insanitary, and then after due notice upon all property owners, plans and specifications will be prepared and a contract let for the actual excavating of the canal and the reclaiming of the insanitary lands.

First a canal of sufficient width and depth will be constructed from the lower end at Ala Moana Road to point far enough Waikiki to intercept the stream now flowing out between the Outrigger Club and the Moana Hotel. When this has been accomplished the reclaiming will start at the Waikiki boundary of district No. 1 and work toward the Ewa end. When this area as outlined above is reclaimed, roads laid out, and sewers laid, it will transform this present waste, insanitary and in most cases unproductive land, into very desirable residential property.

Loan fund commissions.--The principal work performed under the direction and supervision of the Hawaii Loan Fund Commission was in constructing roads in the Kona districts and continuing the construction of the Keamoku Road, Hawaii. The Maui Loan Fund Commission completed the Olinda Reservoir, total cost $59,500. No work was performed by the Oahu or Kauai commissions.

Ponahawai sanitation project.-While this improvement is a much needed one due to this particular land being unsightly, insanitary, and a menace to the health of Hilo, it has been impossible to date to perform this work at any reasonable and justifiable figure. The beach offers the cheapest and perhaps the best filling material at a reasonable cost, but as there are serious objections brought up by the Hawaii Consolidated Railway (Ltd.) against any further removal of the sand. from the beach, it has been deemed advisable to abandon this means of obtaining filling material. The railroad officials claim that the removal of sand from the beach will undermine their tracks.

Pumping from the Wailoa River at present offers the easiest and cheapest method of several given consideration and negotiations are now under way with the Bishop estate to arrange for such pumping. A survey and a series of borings have been made in the Wailoa River to ascertain the character of filling material available. Present indications are that plenty of material is available, and while the distance to pump is considerable, it is thought that the material is of such a nature that the fill can be made satisfactorily and cheaply by this method.