INDIANA. 107 



agement on the rate of growth and earliness of bearing on the yield, 

 color, and keeping quality of the fruit and on the humus content, 

 moisture content, and temperature of the soil was also studied. In 

 connection with extension work a large amount of data relative to 

 the economics of apple growing was collected. Detailed cost records 

 were kept covering all operations, and the effect of disease and insect- 

 pest control on the net income was observed. The investigation of 

 problems affecting the growing of tomatoes as a field crop was con- 

 tinued along the lines started a year ago, and a study was made of 

 the best sj^^stems of companion and succession cropping and of the 

 cost of and return from vegetables grown under as nearly as possible 

 average farm-home conditions. A careful test was made of about 

 140 varieties of strawberries, together with tests of varieties of 

 potatoes, small fruits, peaches, pears, jDlums, and cherries. 



The dairy department of the station, aside from its Adams fund 

 work, inspected creameries and dairies, conducted official tests of 

 pure-blood dairy cows, tested Babcock glassware for accuracy, and 

 m cooperation with this department directed its efforts toward the 

 organization of cooperative cow-test associations for the purpose of 

 herd improvement. 



The botanical department made the usual record of the prevalence 

 of the more important fungus diseases attacking agricultural and 

 horticultural crops during the past year. Attention was also given 

 to soil sanitation or the prevention of unsanitary conditions for a 

 particular crop by the undue accumulation of fungus germs which 

 attack and weaken the growling plants and thus reduce the yield. 

 The study of native and introduced weeds of the State was continued 

 and a carefully planned series of experiments on weed control was 

 begun. Several experiments in mushroom growing were carried out. 



The veterinarian operated a serum laboratory with State appro- 

 priation. The serum building was completed during the year and 

 the preparation of the serum was transferred to it. The quantity of 

 antihog-cholera serum produced during the past year was 1,262,296 

 cubic centimeters, or enough to vaccinate and treat 31,557 hogs. In 

 the herds from which complete reports were received there was an 

 average loss of 2.25 per cent in the vaccinated herds and 9.5 per cent 

 in the treated herds. 



In animal husbandry an investigation on lamb feeding was begun, 

 and the experimental work in cattle and hog feeding was continued. 

 The feeding trials with beef cattle conducted last year were prac- 

 tically repeated to corroborate previous results. The swine-feeding 

 work consisted of trials to determine the value of hominy feed for 

 fattening hogs and the comparative value of tankage and shorts as 

 supplements to corn or hominy feed. It was found that homin}^ feed 

 produced more rapid gains but at a greater cost than corn, and that 



