Show VIRGIN ISLANDS NEED FARMING I Newest Possessions of ofU U S Practically U Undeveloped WASHINGTON Jan By 22 22 BY BYTho ByTh The Tho Associated The Press Press Th de- de desirability desirability de desirability ot of building good rood roads road and further developing agriculture In tho the Virgin Islands Americas America's r acquired possession In the Atlantic Is h under consideration In on the th basis of a picture or of conditions painted by Captain Martin E Trench U S 8 S N retired As governor Captain Trench has ha b n n administering the tir affairs of ti I Islands tor for tho ho last hut IE 16 months The Island Inland of ot St St John the tho small small- smallest est of ot the th three composing the group but comprising 20 SQuare nUn miles of at te territory has hos not a II single road tor for wheel traffic Practically 1 11 1 the food tood supplies of ot the tho th Islan island island- Island Island-i I e has lias to bo be imported CertaIn kinds of ot native fish and fruits are consumed In limited quantities but h ii staple articles chiefly chiefly- salted fish and cornmeal come from the United States The rhe Th department ot of o agriculture has l established ed an experiment sta- sta station sta station tion In St Croix and Is sending out tl Id td age agents from there to the theo theoner o 0 nor ner Islands St Croix with Ith Its lis RO 0 square miles Is devoted largely to the tho raising of o sugar cane Fruit growing could be b devel- devel developed developed ped profitably In the th Islands t Governor Trench believes and the II landers should be bo encouraged to raise vegetables an Industry that thatis thatIs Is almost entirely neglected Deflected Homesteading Is another ques ques- question ques- ques question question tion The land Is fa held In large larf ell ell- es estates tales tates the th titles going back to the th days of ot Danish ownership of o the Islands and Is U tilled by squatters or r rent-payers rent Instead ot of by home homebuilders homebuilders builders nn |