136 EEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



luber development, and compared methods of spraying for disease 

 and insect control. Some tomato-breeding Avork was in progress and 

 new varieties were compared with old or standard sorts. 



The department of agricultural engineering pursued investigations 

 on tile drainage and studied the value and possibilities of utilizing 

 the peat lands of the State. Irrigation work was also carried on to 

 determine the value of irrigation in Minnesota. A practical experi- 

 ment was made to determine the minimum radii for the economical 

 laying of tile curves with tile from 4 to 30 inches in diameter. 



The experimental work in forestry was carried on under State 

 funds and included wood preservation work in cooperation with the 

 Forest Service and silvicultural work at the forest experiment sta- 

 tions at Itasca and Cloquat. 



The principal work at the Grand Rapids substation included the 

 improvement and building up of the station dairy herd to show 

 what could be done in dairying with such animals as are found on the 

 farms of northeastern Minnesota, the raising of a bacon breed of 

 hogs in connection with dairy farming, the possibilities of specialized 

 poultry keeping, and the improvement of the more important field 

 crops in that section of the State. Tests with alfalfa indicated that 

 the crop is well adapted to northeastern Minnesota, a stand being 

 readily obtained without inoculation. At the Morris substation the 

 work was mostly confined to getting the farm into shape. At Crooks- 

 ton about 430 acres were platted into two major practical farm rota- 

 lions, one a 5-year and the other a 7-year scheme. The experimental 

 work with field crops was reorganized during the year and the poul- 

 try work was continued along previous lines, but interrupted to some 

 extent by building operations. 



The extension work of the department of agriculture is provided 

 for by a special State appropriation of $25,000, with an additional 

 $2,500 for dairy extension work. A special corps of extension work- 

 ers is maintained independent of the college and station. The exten- 

 sion work, however, is in a general way supervised by the heads of 

 the" station departments. 



The following publications were received from this station during 

 the year: Bulletins 117, The Cost of Producing Minnesota Farm 

 Products, 1902-1907; 118, Potato Experiments and Studies at Uni- 

 versity Farm in 1909 ; 119, Poultry ; 120, Eye Growing in Minnesota ; 

 121, Orchard and Garden Spraying; 122, The Snnits of Grain Crops; 

 and Wall Chart, Some Minnesota Insects and Useful Birds. 



The income of the station during the past fiscal year was as follows : 



ITuited states appropriation. Hatch Act $15,000.00 



United States appropriation, Adams Act 14.907.99 



Balance from United States appropriation, Adams fund- 2. 01 



State appropriation 107, 033. 36 



Total 137,033. 36 



