110 EEPOET OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



disturbed by the burning of the laboratory, but no important records 

 were lost and the work has progi-essed during the year. The prin- 

 cipal lines of study this year included the experimental feeding of 

 white rats to determine the relative food value of different vegetable 

 proteins. These animals were fed for long periods under conditions 

 heretofore considered impossible. Attention was further given to the 

 study of methods for determining the proportion of the products of 

 hydrolysis of proteins. The results of this work were written up in 

 three papers in the American Journal of Physiolog}\ 



During the year three other comprehensive and important publica- 

 tions were issued by this department. A volmne entitled " The Vege- 

 table Proteins " describes the more important characters of the vege- 

 table proteins, reviews the work in the entire field, and includes a 

 practical!}' complete bibliogTaiahy of the chemistry of these sub- 

 stances. The second publication is a contribution to the Handbuch 

 der biochemischen Arbeitsmethoden, and is entitled " Darstellung der 

 Proteine der Pflanzenwelt." This is a detailed description of the 

 methods for preparing the various vegetable proteins in the highest 

 state of purity. The third publication. Die pfianzlichen Proteine, is 

 a critical review of the literature of the vegetable proteins, bringing 

 the same into orderh' arrangement and indicating the relative values 

 of the various published observations. 



The plant-breeding work with corn and tobacco was continued, 

 and studies were made to determine the application of the laws of 

 heredity to these crops. Some work was also done in the improvement 

 of the potato by breeding. The tobacco plant was found exception - 

 allj?^ well adapted to this line of investigation on account of its 

 abundant seed, which is set either bj^ close or cross fertilization. 



The greater part of the work of the station was carried on by 

 Hatch, State, and the Lock wood funds and fees, and in cooperation 

 with this dej3artment, especially with the Bureau of Plant Industry 

 and the Forest Service. In the forestry department a detailed 

 study of the management of second-growth hardwoods was made, and 

 over 250 sample plats in typical woodlands were selected by the de- 

 partment for the measurement of trees and of felled timber. The 

 results of this work are to form a basis for making yield tables 

 showing the production of different types of forest at different ages. 

 Permanent sample j)lats were established on the State forest land, 

 and measurements were periodically made to determine the results 

 of different methods of forest management. The effect of different 

 thinning and the best method of developing profitable growth of 

 hardwoods were studied in this connection. The department is 

 also making an effort to find some hardwood species that will replace 

 the chestnut, which is being rapidly destroyed by disease. An experi- 

 mental thinning of a 30-year old plantation of white pine was also 



