KANSAS. 143 



admit of greater rapidity of operation for practical commercial 

 purposes. 



Studies were made during the year of the effect of various chemicals, 

 bran, and bran extract on the baking (juality of wheat Hour from 

 different sources, and of the relative digestibility of alfalfa stacked 

 green, stored as hay in sheds, and in the form of meal. 



A large number of additional lines of work Avere carried on with 

 other funds. These included the preparation and distribution of 

 hog-cholera senmi on an extensive scale; the fattening of cattle with 

 rations of cottonseed meal, corn, and alfalfa ; comparative tests of 

 different types of hogs, and dry-lot feeding versus pasture for hogs ; tests 

 of rations of tankage, shorts, and alfalfa for hogs; crossbreeding of 

 sheep ; comparison of different kinds of roughage for sheep ; incuba- 

 tion, mating, and feeding experiments with fowls; corn fodder as 

 compared with silage for dairy cows; ozonization of stale cream ; use 

 of artificial starters in butter making; investigations on the acidity of 

 fresh milk; a study of the kind and functions of bacteria in milk 

 and the associated action of such bacteria ; opsonic action and germi- 

 cidal properties of milk; field observations on the Hessian fly, in- 

 cluding a study of methods of control; investigations on methods of 

 control of gophers and moles; extent of infestation and methods of 

 control of the San Jose scale ; observations and cooperative experi- 

 ments on the control of the codling moth and curculio ; experiments 

 on maintenance of soil fertility; rotations; culture of wheat and com; 

 water requirements of different crops; chemical examination of typi- 

 cal Kansas soils; production and distribution of improved seed of 

 cereal crops; methods of curing alfalfa; observations on varieties, 

 hardiness, and methods of culture of fruits, vegetables, and forest 

 trees ; and experiments in summer pruning and protection of orchards 

 from frost. 



A preliminary report was made on the influence of depth of culti- 

 vation on soil bacteria and their activities. The results suggested 

 that plowing from 8 to 10 inches deep tends to increase the number 

 of soil bacteria in both sandy and silt soils, and also tends to increase 

 bacterial activity, as more ammonia is produced, and apparently de- 

 creases denitrification by the reduction of nitrates and the liberation 

 of free nitrogen. An increase in soil temperature increased bacterial 

 activity, and an excess of moisture reduced the number of bacteria 

 and was detrimental to bacterial activity. The maximum number of 

 bacteria was found within the fifth and sixth inches of the soil. It 

 was further observed that different species of bacteria were present 

 in the soil at different times and in predominating numbers, and that 

 bacterial life and activity seem to rise and fall with more or less 

 regularity and to a certain extent independent of moisture and 



