196 REPOKT OP OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



extractives and the residue were fed to four lots of pigs without 

 injury. A study was also made of the cause of the seeming partial 

 insolubility of potash salts when mixed with basic slag, the object 

 being to determine whether present methods of analysis are at fault 

 or whether a chemical reaction takes place on mixing. 



The entomological department continued work on the project 

 relating to the strongvloid parasites orf sheep and calves, making 

 studies of the life history of the parasites and of a method to deter- 

 mine the presence of blood parasites to explain the action on the host. 

 The species of hookworms in cattle and sheep were found to be 

 different; and a new form in rabbits was determined. The study of 

 the relation of temperature and moisture to insect activity was 

 pursued with species that, could be easily observed in all stages of 

 development. Apparatus was devised for the purpose of determin- 

 ing with accuracy the value of both moisture and temperature as 

 factors on insect activity. The biological study of the slender wire- 

 worm (Horistonotvs curiatus) was continued as a cooperative study, 

 an insect field laboratory being established in the heart of the wire- 

 worm territory, and a current report of progress was issued. 



Most of the experiments carried on with the Hatch fund were 

 continuations of those planned a few years ago. The department of 

 agronomy studied the fertilizer requirements of upland soils of the 

 State for the various staple crops when grown in a number of dif- 

 ferent rotations. Data have now accumulated covering a period of 

 about six years. It was found that large applications of potash are 

 not needed for the staple crops in the Piedmont section and that 

 corn requires more potash than does cotton. The rotation experi- 

 ments showed that cotton with a winter cover crop followed by corn 

 with peas was as effective in building up the soil as a three or four 

 year rotation. Cotton-breeding work was continued to develop a 

 high-yielding big-boll variety and a high-yielding long-staple 

 variety. This work also included selection for increasing yield, 

 quality, and length of fiber, the size of boll, and the general vigor 

 of the plant. About 50 of the standard varieties of cotton were 

 grown for comparison. The breeding work with corn resulted in 

 an increase of the uniformity of the ear and of the yield of grain. 

 A good variety for ensilage was also developed. During the past 

 year data accumulated showing that oats and wheat should be well 

 fertilized in the fall and be only top-dressed with nitrate of soda in 

 the spring. The results of five years' tests with various cover crops 

 were in favor of rye and vetch. The best grasses for holding ter- 

 raced banks were found to be Texas blue grass on northern exposures 

 and Bermuda grass on southern exposures. 



The horticulturist conducted experiments with asparagus which 

 showed that the male plants produced 50 per cent more stalks than 



