MISSISSIPPI. 173 



blood, urine, etc., were subjected to microscopical and bacteriological 

 examinations. Some influence with reference to the numloer of red 

 and white corpuscles of the blood was observed as a result ap- 

 parently of feeding the meal. It was also indicated that feeding 

 cottonseed meal affects breeding unfavorably. This work was ex- 

 tended to hogs, where it was found that the effects of feeding the 

 meal included a marked decrease in the red corpuscles of the blood, 

 and that the length of resistance to the injurious effect varied in 

 different animals. 



In the cotton-anthracnose project studies were made of the physi- 

 ology and ecology of the disease, and in connection with the work 

 selection of varieties for disease resistance was folloAved. 



The entomological department pursued work on its several proj- 

 ects, recorded the data secured, and prepared some of the material 

 for publication. Studies of scale insects were made in the insectary. 

 Special work Avas done on a number of species attacking pecan trees, 

 considerable time was devoted to the investigation of the peach-tree 

 borer, and some work was done on the bean-leaf beetle, but no atten- 

 tion was given this year to the sugar-cane beetle. 



The different departments of the station also pursued various 

 lines of work under Ihe Hatch fund. In animal husbandry experi- 

 ments with beef cattle were made to determine the cost of wintering, 

 and steers were fed cottonseed meal while on pasture. Pig-feeding 

 experiments were conducted to determine the relative merits of a 

 number of pasture and forage crops. Some of the results secured 

 shoAved that cottonseed meal can be fed to beef steers on grass with 

 profit and that grass is a much cheaper fonn of roughage than cot- 

 tonseed hulls for feeding with cottonseed meal. This department 

 has a large acreage at its disposal, but all the land is not actually re- 

 quired for experimental purposes. 



Feeding tests were also made in dairy husbandry to compare wheat 

 bran with corn silage as a feed for dairy cows, and an experiment 

 was begun for the comparison of soiling, pasturing, and the use of 

 purchased feeds in dairy farming. In these tests 1 ton of silage was 

 about equal to 292 pounds of wheat bran. Data were also collected 

 on the cost of raising heifers on purchased feeds. 



Work in agronomy was pursued along much the same lines as 

 heretofore. A large share of the land assigned to this department 

 was in use for rotation experiments. A change in its leadership 

 occurred during the year, as mentioned above, and the work is now 

 in charge of the director of the station. 



The entomologist made observations on pine-nursery insects, saw- 

 flies, chinch bugs, and other pests. The results of observations on 

 the spread of the boll weevil obtained in cooperation with this de- 



