210 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



VERMONT. 



Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station, Burlington. 



Department of University of Vermont and State Agi-icultural College. 



J. L. Hills, Sc. D., Director. 



No important changes in the staff of the Vermont station took place 

 during the year, but at its close R. M. Washburn, in charge of the 

 dairy work, resigned, to take up similar work at the Minnesota sta- 

 tion, and A. A. Borland, of the Pennsylvania station^ was appointed 

 to succeed him. In cooperation with the college the station increased 

 and improved the greenhouse facilities for research and experi- 

 mental work along a number of lines (PI. IX, fig. 1). During the 

 year all work of an extension character was transferred to the uni- 

 versity, but remained under the direction of the director of the sta- 

 tion. The State appropriations to the station were limited to $1,000 

 for printing the annual report. 



Practically all the lines of work conducted with the Adams fund 

 the year before were continued. The study of the fundamental 

 process relative to the storage of sucrose and other carbohydrates 

 in the wood and in the bark of the maple was continued as outlined, 

 particular attention being given to the form and quantity of car- 

 bohydrates stored each month in the year. A study was made of the 

 anatomical structure of cells to determine where the starch is stored. 

 The project was extended to include other species, among them being 

 brown ash, oak, birch, beech, pine, and apple. 



The study of forcing plants with carbon dioxid was pursued with 

 lettuce, spinach, and radish in the greenhouse. Aerial applications 

 of different strengths of the gas were tested, and its effect on forced 

 plants was also studied. Microscopic and laboratory methods were 

 applied to supplement the greenhouse trials. Sunshine and tempera- 

 ture were found to be important factors in this work. 



The project on the effect of size of seed on the future plant was 

 conducted with sweet peas, lettuce^ spinach, radish, and beans, which 

 responded to the selection of large seed, while other plants, among 

 them pumpkin, summer squash, cabbage, and varieties of beans, 

 varying but little in size and weight, gave indifferent results. An 

 effort was made to establish the proper basis of seed selection. 



The study of tolerance of forest trees was pursued in a forest 

 nursery and in a piece of woodland where self-recording evapo- 

 rometers and other instruments were installed by means of which data 

 were collected. Beds of seedlings were kept open in half shade and 

 in full shade, and readings of the instruments were made at night 

 in the woods and in the open. The work the past season was pre- 

 paratory to a study mainly with reference to the amount of light 

 and sunshine in relation to thinning. 



