94 EEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



soils particular attention was given to the distribution of soil bacteria 

 and the rate at which ammonia and other nitrogenous compounds are 

 transformed. The presence of manure was found to influence the 

 total number of organisms present, but it did not affect the number 

 of species found. Sterilized manure when added to soils in pots was 

 found to increase the bacterial flora more than unsterilized manure. 

 Very little difference was noticed in the rate of ammonification in 

 the different pots in the series. Manured soils were found to nitrify 

 better than soils receiving no manurial treatment, and it was con- 

 cluded that either the nitrifs^ing organisms are in the manure or that 

 they act more freely in its presence. Life history and control studies 

 of the plum wilt were continued. 



In the study of Mendelian inheritance in the cotton plant about 

 30 characters in the F^ generation of cotton hybrids were under 

 observation. Of these hybrids about one-half acre was grown in 

 1910, and about 4 acres of the Fo generation were planted in 1911. 

 Tests were also made of the value of continuous selection of cotton 

 plants for resistance to anthracnose. ^Vhile thus far no complete 

 immunity has been secured, selections were obtained in which the 

 prevalence of anthracnose is very greatly reduced. 



The veterinarian continued his work on tick fever, but with a very 

 limited number of animals, conducting a test of trypanblue as a 

 treatment. In addition to this work, a test of the action and effi- 

 ciency of bacterin in treating fistula was made. A detailed report 

 on the work to date was prepared. 



In the grape-breeding project it was necessary to study the self- 

 sterility of the Muscadine grapes. About 800 seedlings were grown 

 to determine the prevalence of white and black fruited varieties and 

 the causes giving rise to this difference in color. 



The bacteriologist in cooperation with the horticulturist studied 

 the relation of manure, insects, influence of variety, etc., to the occur- 

 rence of end rot in tlie tomato. Special attention was given in this 

 connection to soil and atmospheric conditions, and particularly the 

 moisture conditions of the soil and the atmosphere. The chemist 

 completed two years' work on the effect of different compounds and 

 amounts of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid on the composition 

 of the cotton plant, and prepared a bulletin giving the results ob- 

 tained. Studies were in progress on the phosphorus content of the 

 various parts of the cotton plant, with special reference to the seed. 



The preliminary work on the protein requirements of growing 

 cattle under 1 year of age showed that the capacity for growth 

 depends primarily upon the individual, and that as long as the pro- 

 tein supply is adequate to furnish material for growth a larger 

 quantity causes a greater rate of growth only to a minor degree. 



