124 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



volved and of ascertaining the strictly biological relationships to the 

 keeping of butter. It is the purpose of this laboratory to persist in 

 this work until the keeping qualities of butter are placed upon a more 

 definite basis, a basis which will enable the butter-maker to know the 

 exact factors at work and to eliminate those which interfere so ma- 

 terially with good quality. 



TYPHOID FEVER GEKMS IN MILK. 



Owing to the close association of epidemics of typhoid fever and milk, 

 as well as milk products, the question has been asked several times, 

 whether the typhoid germs would withstand the acidity of ordinary' 

 soured milk. To ascertain the influence of sour milk upon the typhoid 

 germs, Miss Zae Northrup has undertaken investigations. Seemingly 

 easy, results would be expected early, but, on the contrary, many diffi- 

 culties have been encountered, because of a lack of satisfactory methods 

 in isolating readily the one genu from the other. Again, it has been 

 found advisable to include as many types of lactic bacteria as are 

 available for study lest the results from one type might not be indentical 

 with those of another. 



The problem has, therefore, resolved itself into a study of devising 

 methods to make the various determinations of typhoid germs in the 

 active presence of many types of lactic bacteria. 



SOIL INVESTIGATIONS. 



Bacteriological soil investigations are receiving considerable prom- 

 inence as time goes by. It is believed that the micro-organisms of the 

 soil are to a large extent responsible for the difference between an active 

 fertile soil and an inactive or dead soil. When Mr, Walter G. Sackett 

 entered this laboratory, soil studies were undertaken in earnest. His 

 attention was given to the study of the action of micro-organisms upon 

 the insoluble phosphates of the soil. Before leaving us, he, in association 

 with our Chemist, ]\Ir. A. J. Patten, gave his results in bulletin form. 

 Upon his departure, Mr. Wm. S. Saj^er undertook the work. This was 

 September 1, 1908. Mr. Sayer entered upon the work in a comprehensive 

 and thorough manner. He studied his problem in its .relation to all the 

 recognized problems of the soil, and made a serious and systematic effort 

 to . master his subject. He attended the summer graduate school for 

 Experiment Station workers for the purpose of familiarizing himself 

 with the work of others. He waded through soil literature to learn 

 what investigators had already contributed; in short, he w^as leading 

 up to his problems in a careful systematic manner so characteristic of 

 the man. 



WORK WITH LEGUME CULTURES. 



Mr. Bronson Barlow, for the last four years connected with the 

 Bacteriological Department of Guelph, Ontario, came to this laboratory 

 for a short time about the first of March. Together with Mr. Sayer, he 

 instituted the methods for providing cultures for legumes to farmers, 

 such as had been done at Guelph. Mr. Barlow left the laboratory early 

 in April, when this entire work devolved upon Mr. Sayer. On the even- 



