116 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ordinary conditions of the stable when straw is used as bedding, and 

 afterwards placed in cages, but no adults have as yet appeared. 

 Strangely enough, none of the check cages, containing exactly the same 

 sort of material except that it had not been used as bedding, yielded 

 any adults, although cages containing the rye joint-worm, standing on 

 the same shelf, produced a plentiful supply. The experiment will be 

 repeated this fall if a supply of the larvae is to be had. It was found 

 after diligent inquiry that wheat grown on soil manured in the fall 

 with fresh manure (and straw) suffered the most. Fields fertilized 

 with well rotted manure and old straw escaped with markedly less 

 damage. 



Trips have been made to several parts of the state to examine into 

 and advise in special cases of insect trouble, one trip being made to 

 the upper peninsula sub-station and the region thereabout to study the 

 larch saw-fly which is proving very serious over large areas, defoliating 

 the tamaracks and killing many of them. 



Some time has been spent in studying the soft scales of the state, col- 

 lecting and making careful studies of their structures in order to try 

 to differentiate the different species. 



It remains to thank my assistants, Mr. E. J. Krause and Mr. Moses 

 Craig. Mr. Krause, whose work in rearing and preparing insects has 

 been most satisfactory, and Mr. Craig for his aid in the botanical work, 

 which latter he has attended to in large measure, determining plants, 

 weeds, etc., and making many seed tests. The writer wishes to convey 

 his sincere thanks and appreciation to both these gentlemen. 



Very respectfully submitted, 



R. H. PETTIT. 



Agricultural College, Mich., June 30, 1906. 



REPORT OF THE CONSULTING VETERINARIAN. 



Director C. D. Smith: 



Dear Sir — As consulting veterinarian for the experiment station my 

 work for the past year has been principally the answering of inquiries 

 from farmers with regard to diseased animals. So far as contagious 

 disorders go, Michigan seems to be especially blessed. We are practi- 

 cally exempt from many of the serious contagious disorders from which 

 many of the other states suffer. The contagious swine disorders cause 

 some losses, but the losses for the most part are confined to rather small 

 areas. In some localities quite a good many sheep have been lost, some 

 from internal parasites, others from what seemed to be an incurable 

 chronic indigestion, the exact cause of which could not be determined. 

 The so-called ''Grand Traverse" disease continues to cause losses in 

 certain sections. 



Respectfully submitted, 



GEO. A. WATERMAN, 



Consulting Veterinarian. 



Agricultural College, Mich., June 30, 190G. 



