132 EEPOKT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



The chemist entered upon a study of the manufacture and storage 

 of lime-sulphur-spray solution, and worked in cooperation with the 

 horticulturist on the influence of cover crops and commercial ferti- 

 lizers in grape culture. In addition to this work, attention was 

 given to the analysis of 120 samples of a miscellaneous nature sent 

 in by residents of the State and to the fertilizer control work. 



The horticultural work included the continuation of cover crop 

 and fertilizer tests in vineyards and orchards. The cover crops 

 under trial were buclrwheat, velvet bean, spring vetch, cowpeas, 

 winter vetch, oats, and rye. Winter vetch, sown at the rate of 25 

 to 30 pounds of seed per acre in July or August, proved the most 

 promising cover crop planted. Tests were also continued to deter- 

 mine the advantages of spraying potatoes to protect them from blight 

 and rot, and spraying tests of orchard fruits were continued for the 

 comparison of self-boiled lime-sulphur mixture, dilute boiled lime 

 sulphur, and Bordeaux mixture on apple, cherry, plum, and peach. 

 A report was made during the year on a series of potato fertilizer 

 experiments. 



The time of the botanical department was taken up largely with 

 matters of reorganization and equipment and with the examination 

 of seed samples as provided by the pure-seed law of the State, to- 

 gether Avith the study of weeds. Attention was further given to com- 

 bating the rot knot of ginseng and to the determination of plant 

 diseases. 



The entomological work of the season included studies of cut- 

 worms, plant lice in orchards. Tussock moth, rose chafer, and wire- 

 worms. Special efforts were continued in establishing effective 

 measures for the control of the tamarack sawfly, and in this connec- 

 tion a parasite was introduced and this insect was liberated in the 

 Upper Peninsula for the purpose of overcoming the tamarack pest 

 in that section. 



The farm crop work of the station consisted mainly of the breed- 

 ing of wheat, oats, rye, barley, beans, soy beans, cowpeas, clover, 

 alfalfa, timothy, and orchard grass, together with a study of the 

 effect of manures and fertilizers and the rotation of crops on soil 

 fertility. A number of select clovers were set out in the nursery 

 and a small variety series of alfalfa was started during the year. 

 An experiment, known as the Davenport fertility and rotation ex- 

 periment, was discontinued and the data were summarized during 

 the year. 



The South Haven substation gave attention mainly to spraying 

 tests for combating plant diseases and insects pests attacking l)ush 

 and orchard fruits and the study of varieties of apples including 

 some new or little-known sorts. 



