EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 123 



proves to be a good forage producer and a fair seed producer which is 

 being increased to send out next year. 



These two increase plots of this year are the first cow peas we have 

 been able to produce which could be recommended for Michigan con- 

 ditions. ^ 



8oy Beans — The breeding work has been completed and we have quite 

 a number of pure strains that are being tested out in variety series. 



Clover— As it is situated on stiff soil, the winter-kill in the clover 

 nursery was very heavy. Pei'haps it is a good thing to have the plants 

 thus severely tested as the survivors undoubtedly belong to hardy 

 strains. The individual plants in the nursery were set in check-rows 

 two feet each way. Second generation nui-series of the mammoth, June 

 and alsike clovers will be set out this year. The seed is growing in 

 beds this year, having been grown from a selected high-producing 

 mother-plant of last year. The new nurseries will be set out about the 

 last of June and will probably contain 4,500 individual plants. 



Alfalfa — Our nursery contains individual plants from over a hundred 

 sources and new alfalfas are being received each year. As Michigan 

 does not produce alfalfa seed, the- main object of this work is to select 

 the best from the best through a number of generations until we have 

 strains that will be high seed producers as well as producers of large 

 quantities of hay. Some of the families did not lose a single individual 

 plant by frost last winter, and the plant which produces the greatest 

 amount of seed is still alive. 



R. S. SHAW, 



East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1909. 



Director. 



REPORT OF THE BACTERIOLOGIST. 



Director R. S. Shaw: 



Dear Sir — Progress is indicated along the several lines of investiga- 

 tions under way in this laboratory. Only specific comment can furnish 

 the trend of work or results. 



BUTTER INVESTIGATIONS. 



Last year were issued the findings on the "Keeping Qualities of 

 Butter" by Wm. S. Sayer, Otto Rahn, and Bell Farrand. This year 

 the work has continued and all efforts have been concentrated upon 

 the influence of salt, and of nitrogen in their relations to these keep- 

 ing qualities. The able and active control of Dr. Otto Rahn in con- 

 ducting this Avork is largely instrumental in bringing the work to its 

 present status. Associated with Dr. Rahn, has been Mr. Charles W. 

 Brown, who has so conscientiously pui^ued the study of the bacterial 

 nitrogenous products, and who will assume charge of the work for the 

 coming year. Also, Miss Lulu M. Smith has assisted by taking the 

 patient role of following the life-histories of the micro-organisms in- 



