160 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



irrigating peach orchards was begun and studies were continued on 

 the critical frost stage of the peach. It was shown that peach blos- 

 soms and fruit are generally more resistant to cold in the region of 

 the station than in other parts of the United States. Tests of heading 

 back and whitewashing peach trees for the prevention of sun scald 

 were continued. The results of station experiments with peaches 

 from 1006 to 1910 were published during the year in Bulletin 76. A 

 number of varieties of apples most successfully grown in the north- 

 western part of the United States were added to the new apple 

 orchard. Various methods of irrigating and covering grapes to pre- 

 vent winter injury were tested, with interesting results. The station 

 vineyard contains a large number of varieties which have done well 

 except for some winter injury. Experiments with cabbage included 

 tests of varieties, time of planting, and fertilizers and manures. 

 Onions were grown very successfully from home-grown seed and com- 

 manded as good a price as those from imported seed. Thinning was 

 found, as in previous years, to be more exj^ensive than transplanting. 

 The results from experiments on the growing of Denia onion seed 

 showed that a large quantity of good seed can be produced. Co- 

 operation was carried on in orchard irrigation with this department 

 and in celery and Denia onion experiments in cooperation with fann- 

 ers of the State. Experiments were made with sweet potatoes both 

 on the bottom and on the mesa lands. Apples were successfully 

 budded on pear stocks. The phenological observations which this 

 station has been making for several years were continued. 



In addition to work connected with the Adams fund investigation 

 of cacti, the chemical department continued a study of the irrigating 

 waters of the State and also examined water samples to determine 

 their fitness for domestic use. The cooperative investigation of the 

 waters of several of the rivers was undertaken with the State engineer. 

 Eighty-three soil samples were examined to determine their fitness for 

 cropping and to suggest remedies for the removal of alkali. Analyses 

 were also made of several samples of insecticides and two samples of 

 sugar beets. 



In animal husbandry a series of experiments was made with 20 

 yearling steers, testing alfalfa alone and with shelled corn, corn meal, 

 and com stover. It was found that local finishing can be profiti>l>ly 

 done with alfalfa alone. Some experiments were made in feeding 

 grain to cows at pasture, also with alfalfa and grain for sheep. 

 Summer experiments were cai-ried on with pigs on alfalfa pasture 

 supplemented with skim milk, corn, and barley. Experiments with 

 pigs were in progress to test rations of alfalfa and skim milk; skim 

 milk, shorts, and bran; shelled corn and alfalfa; and corn meal, skim 

 milk, and alfalfa. In this connection a comparison was made of the 



