222 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



• 



lizer experiments with tomatoes at Berkeley Springs gave good results 

 from the use of acid phosphate. Orchard heating and orchard fer- 

 tilizer experiments were also taken up, and studies were made of 

 apple by-products as a means of disposing of inferior fruit. Meth- 

 ods for combating walking sticks, which had become serious in a big 

 orchard on a piece of cleared land, were given trial. 



The poultryman tested a new system of brooding for raising chicks 

 in large quantities and studied the cost of egg production and the 

 cost of producing chickens, special attention being given to the feed 

 required to produce a pound of growth. 



The agriculturist carried on fertilizer experiments with a variety 

 of crops and the dairyman conducted a cross-breeding experiment 

 with the dairy herd, using Ayrshire and Curry bulls on Jerseys. 



In addition to the cooperative work already mentioned, the station 

 cooperated with swine breeders in the inoculation of hogs to prevent 

 the further spread of hog cholera, and assistance was also given 

 farmers in the control and eradication of internal parasites of sheep. 

 Cooperative poultry work had reference mainly to brooding, feeding, 

 and the use of improved breeds. The station conducted demonstra- 

 tions in the spraying of orchards and potatoes, for which it receives 

 an appropriation of $4,000 a year from the State, and further de- 

 voted its energies to the inspection of orchards and nurseries under 

 another State appropriation, amounting to $7,500. The station also 

 continued to have charge of the fertilizer control of the State, and 

 the usual amount of inspection and analj^tical work was done. 



The publications received from this station during the year were as 

 follows: Bulletin 129, Construction of a Silo; 130, Construction of 

 a Modern Poultry House and Report of Experiments in Hopper 

 Feeding Laying Hens; 131, Plat Experiments with Fertilizers; 132, 

 Commercial Fertilizers; and 133, Suggestions for Spraying. 



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



United States appropriation, Hatcli Act $1,5,000.00 



United States appropriation, Adams Act 15,000.00 



State appropriation 11,500.00 



Fees 13,251.69 



Farm products 7,390.75 



Miscellaneous 279. 61 



Balance from previous year 3,889. 76 



Total 66, 311. 81 



The West Virginia station with the Federal and State funds is 

 doing a considerable amount of experimental and demonstration work 

 of value to the State, and its investigations in a number of lines are 

 commendable. 



