MONTANA. 181 



In the entomological department during the past season grasshop- 

 23ers received considerable attention. Control methods by means of 

 spraying and improvement in the spraying solutions used were 

 Avorked out. The head of this department also worked on the spotted 

 fever and its propagation, under a State appropriation as State ento- 

 mologist and in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology of this 

 department. 



The agronomy department has an area of 42 acres in experimental 

 work. The variety tests conducted included 40 varieties of oats, 32 

 of spring wheat, 12 of peas, 40 of barley, and 28 of grasses, clovers, 

 and crop mixtures. Rates of seeding ranging from 4 to 4 bushels per 

 acre were tested witli wheat, oats, barley, and peas, and a study was 

 made of the best time of seeding by commencing as early as the 

 ground is in condition in the spring and continuing for 9 weeks with 

 these same crops. A comparison of size in plats was made by grow- 

 ing grain planted under identical conditions on plats ranging from 

 0.01 to 0.25 acre in area. Rotation tests were made on GG plats, and 

 various mixtures of wheat, oats, barley, and peas were planted in du- 

 plicate, one set being cut for hay and the other for grain. 



This department cooperates with the Bureau of Plant Industry of 

 this department in dry-farming work and with this office in testing 

 the efficiency of various mulches. In addition the department has 

 charge of the work at the permanent dry-farming station at Mocca- 

 sin, in Fergus Count}', and of twelve 40-acre tracts on which work of 

 demonstration grade is in progress. These demonstration farms are 

 held under 5 -year leases, and the work is supported by the State and 

 two of its important railroad lines. 



In animal husbandry, experiments were made on the effects of dif- 

 ferent amounts of various grains fed with clover on the gain of steers. 

 In pig feeding the effect of varying amounts of dry matter on the 

 gain was studied, and the results were found less satisfactory with the 

 more bulky feeds. A comparison of clover silage with clover hay as 

 a feed for dairy cows was made during the past winter. Inbreeding 

 work with hogs carried to the fifth generation indicated a loss in 

 strength and fecundity. 



The horticultural work was in charge of the new horticulturist who 

 entered upon his duties at the beginning of the year. This depart- 

 ment has about 5 acres of orchard at Bozeman and a substation of 20 

 acres in the Bitter Boot Valley. The variety tests in progress were 

 continued, and work was done on pruning tomatoes, cantaloup, 

 squash, and watermelons to hasten maturity, on methods of irriga- 

 tion of potatoes, etc. Tests were also in progress with varieties of 

 apples and methods of culture and soil improvement. 



