184 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



that narrow-leaf types selected from Hogiie Yellow Dent were more 

 drought resistant than broad-leaf t^^pes. The strains w^ith a high- 

 leaf area yielded 43.G bushels per acre, while those with a low-leaf 

 area j)roduced 52.1 bushels. 



A report of j^rogress was made on the investigation of the soils of 

 the transition region, or the loess area of the State. In this con- 

 nection changes in the comjoosition of the loess soils of Nebraska 

 caused by cultivation were studied, and it was concluded that with 

 their chemical composition as a basis these soils are very fertile and 

 are likely to maintain their productive capacity for a long time if they 

 are kept in good physical condition, and are well supplied with 

 nitrogen and organic matter. 



Investigations relating to hyperimmunization and the possible use 

 of a horse serum for hog cholera were continued during the year, 

 and some observations were also made on the transmission of swamp 

 fever by means of flies. The immunization of pigs in utero was 

 studied in connection with hog-cholera work. 



Considerable work was done on winter injury of fruit trees, and 

 many pieces of apparatus were devised for these investigations. A 

 large amount of data were also secured in the continuation of studies 

 on heredity in plants. The plant-disease projects receiving atten- 

 tion during the year were a new Fusarium dry rot of potatoes, 

 internal brown spotting of potatoes, and potato scab. 



Work on the effect of close-breeding in maize and on thickness of 

 stand on cereal plants was continued along the same line as hereto- 

 fore. During this season, corn inbred the previous year decreased in 

 yield by about 50 per cent as compared with the same corn either 

 naturally fertilized or artificially crossed. This result may not have 

 been due to inbreeding alone and several years of work are required 

 before positive results will be obtained. In studying the effect of 

 thickness of stand on cereal plants it was shown that when thick 

 planting is practiced a certain percentage of plants are crowded out 

 and fail to produce seed. Plants from strong, vigorous seed were 

 more likely to survive, and plants from the small, shrunken seed more 

 likel}^ to be crowded out. With corn a higher yield was obtained 

 under thick than under thin planting. 



The investigations on the effect of feed on the strength of bones in 

 pigs were continued with new combinations of feeds. Work was 

 also begun on the study of the relation of type or conformation to 

 gaining capacity in steers. 



In addition to Adams-fund projects, extensive experiments were 

 carried on, as in previous years, with field crops, more particularly 

 in acclimatization and improvement in wheat, a special object being 

 to increase the yield and extend the area of winter wheat in the State, 

 improvement of varieties and methods of culture of corn, acclimatiza- 



