162 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



its diseases. This scourge is steadily destroying the tamaracks in tlie 

 North and is working injury even as far south as Lansing, wherever 

 tamarack is to be found. We are still exi>erimenting with the fungus 

 diseases of this insect and plan to attempt the infection of the larvae 

 still more extensively this summer. 



The Adams approjjriation has furnished funds for more work on in- 

 sect diseases by myself and also for carrying on very satisfactory work 

 on the problem on insecticides by Dr. Shafer. This latter problem is by 

 nature a very complicated one and will require some time before final 

 results are to be obtained, but very gratifying progress has been made 

 during the entire year. 



The change of quarters so kindly arranged by yourself has more than 

 doubled the room at our disposal and added materially to the comfort 

 and capacity of the division. 



It remains to express grateful api)reciation for the assistance and 

 support of the two junior mendjers of thtf division, — Dr. (i. E. Shafer, 

 whose work is entirely research and ^Nlr. ^I. A. Yothers, half of whose 

 time is devoted to station work, largely in general care of breeding 

 experiments, keeping of records, and the various duties which are always 

 coming to light. Both of these gentlemen have done their best toward 

 working for the success of the division. 



Kespectfullv submitted, 



B. H. TETTIT, 



Entomologist. 

 East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1!)09. 



EEPOKT OF i>01L PHYSIClt^T. 



Director K. S. Shaw: 



Dear Sir — Some time has been given to the study of the cement silo 

 as it is found in ^fichigan, and a bulletin has been prepared on the same. 



Special Bulletin Xo. 34 has been revised and reissued as Special Bul- 

 letin No. 47. 



A circular on The Selection and Care of Seed Corn has been prepared. 



Study has been given to soil thermometers with a view (1) to taking 

 up a line of soil temi)erature investigation, and (2) to devising a simi>le 

 and cheap, yet delicate and durable, soil thermometer. 



Incidentally some preliminary work has been d(me in evaporimetiy. 



The large amount of class and other work has rendered it impos.sible 

 to accomplish any considerable amount of investigation work, more- 

 over the facilities for investigation will be limited until the new build- 

 ing is completed. 



Kespectfullv, 



JAS. A. JEFFERY, 



Soil Physicist. 

 East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1909. 



