30 Director's Report of the 



trol of the use of the machines, it was found that the bacterial con- 

 tent of the milk remained well below 10,000 per cubic centimeter, 

 ranging in a majority of cases between 2,000 and 5,000. These 

 tests were carried out under ordinarily good barn management and 

 indicate that the milking machine, properly handled, may be made 

 an important factor in the production of sanitary milk. 



Another important line of investigation recently instituted by 

 the bacteriological department is the study of soil bacteria, espe- 

 cially as influenced by the application to the soil of lime and other 

 substances. We have come to understand that soil flora are inti- 

 mately related to fertility and it is well within the range of proba- 

 bility that the effect of lime or other materials applied to the soil 

 may be in part due to a modification of the kind and activities of 

 soil bacteria. This investigation has not proceeded beyond the 

 preliminary steps that are necessary to the carrying on of an ex- 

 tended piece of research. 



Vegetable growers have at times met with serious losses from 

 what are known as soft rots. The soft rot of cabbage has received 

 the attention of the Station for some years. It is now known 

 that the causal organism, or group of organisms, is bacterial in its 

 character. As far back as 1902, this Station and the Experiment 

 Station of Vermont entered into a co-operative investigation of 

 the soft rots of cabbage, cauliflower and turnip. This investiga- 

 tion has not proceeded farther than a study of the various strains 

 of organisms related to the soft rots and an attempt at their classi- 

 fication. The knowledge gained forms a basis for further inquiry 

 as to the possible control of vegetable soft rots. 



CHEMICAL WORK. 



The most laborious and expensive chemical work performed at 

 the Station is the analysis of various materials that are inspected 

 under the authority of the State Commissioner of Agriculture. 

 Samples of fertilizers, feeding stuffs, fungicides and insecticides 

 are selected in the open market by the agents of the Commissioner, 

 which samples are forwarded to the Station for analysis. The an- 



