200 EEPORT OP OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



The work of the past year in animal husbandry inchided breeding 

 western-bred ewes to pure-bred rams and feeding both parents and 

 progeny on the same kind of a grain ration, feeding steers of different 

 ages on the same kind of grain ration to determine the relation of age 

 to gain, and developing a new breed of swine by crossing and selec- 

 tion to fix desirable characters. The results of the experiment on 

 fattening steers of diiferent ages were published in Bulletin 125 of 

 the station. The results of experiments conducted with six of the 

 leading breeds of sheep crossed with western ewes, extending over a 

 period of six years, to determine the adaptability of the grades to 

 South Dakota conditions, were presented in Bulletin 127. The 

 breeds used for breeding purposes were Cotswold, Hampshire, Ox- 

 ford, Southdown, Shropshire, and Rambouillet. 



The major part of the botanical investigations concerned the life 

 histories and general cytology of the rusts. In this connection, ob- 

 servations were made as to the possibility of grain rust being an in- 

 ternal parasite, thus being propagated by means of the seed. Some 

 cultural studies were made on dry rot of potatoes which was preva- 

 lent during the year in the western part of the State. 



The chemical department reported satisfactory work in its sugar- 

 beet investigations. Attention was centered on the growing of pedi- 

 greed sugar-beet seed and a most satisfactory lot of mother beets was 

 produced. About 4,000 analyses were made and a report on the 

 progress of experiments in sugar-beet seed production, carried on in 

 cooperation with this department, was made in Bulletin 129 of the 

 station. Other lines of work with sugar beets included siloing in the 

 field, commercial seed production, and spacing to secure maximum 

 results. Cooperative work with this department on the morpholog- 

 ical structure of the sugar beet as related to its sugar content was 

 inaugurated. 



The dairy department had in progress an experiment on the keep- 

 ing of ice on the farm by different methods of storage. Experiments 

 were also conducted on the cooperative efficiency and practicability 

 of machine and hand milking. Feed and milk records of the dairy 

 herd were kept and the results secured on the use of milk-powder 

 starters in creameries were published in Bulletin 123 of the station. 



The horticulturist studied the varieties in the station orchards, both 

 top-worked and on their own stems, and continued the experiments 

 in breeding hardy everblooming roses. During the past year several 

 thousand blossoms were crossed with some of the best roses under 

 cultivation, the principal work being done with the Siberian Rosa 

 rugosa and the native wild roses. This department also continued its 

 work in the introduction of hardy alfalfas. One-year-old alfalfa 

 plants of four varieties — Omsk 1908 Siberia, Semipalatinsk Siberia,^ 



