PENNSYLVANIA. 227 



steers fed in an open shed on succulent rations, including silage, made 

 more rapid and cheaper gains and attained a higher finish than simi- 

 lar cattle fed in the same way in the basement of a barn. These 

 results confirm the experiments made by xVrmsby, which indicated 

 that a warm temperature is not necessary for fattening animals. 

 Poultry-feeding experiments were conducted in which rations con- 

 taining various amounts of crude fiber, ranging from 2 to 8 per 

 cent, were fed to laying hens. The results indicated that an excessive 

 amount of crude fiber reduced the egg yield and injuriously affected 

 the health of fowls. 



The dairyman continued feeding tests based on results of respira- 

 tion calorimeter ex^>eriments with roughage and concentrates to 

 determine the relative economy of the bulky and the concentrated 

 rations. Observations were also begun to learn the relative sources 

 and degrees of contamination of market milk from the time it is 

 drawn from the cow until it is delivered to the consumer. The test 

 of the milking machine was continued, this being the third year of 

 the work. 



The botanist made further progress in the study of clover diseases, 

 giving sjjecial attention to anthracnose and to the nature of apple 

 canker, which appears to be caused by a fungus associated with the 

 oviposition of the snowy tree cricket. A form of root gall of the 

 apple, possibly of fungus or bacterial origin, was also studied. Pre- 

 liminary work was done to determine the possible cause and control 

 of winter blight of greenhouse tomatoes. 



The attention of the horticultural department during the year was 

 largely confined to cabbage, tomatoes, and asparagus. Marked va- 

 riation was found to exist in the same varieties of cabbage and toma- 

 toes from different sources of seed, and special irregularity was noted 

 in some of the most important varieties. The results indicated the 

 need of improved methods of seed production. With asparagus, 

 rust resistance received much attention through selection and breed- 

 ing. Work with strawberries was carried on to study the adapta- 

 bility of varieties to limestone soils and to test methods of culture 

 with and without irrigation. The experiments with the vegetable 

 crops included various cultural and fertilizer tests. 



The forestry work consisted of experiments in timber preservation, 

 tree jjlanting, methods of collecting and handling forest-tree seecl^, 

 growth measurements, pure and mixed planting, nursery handling, 

 etc. The forest nurseries now contain over 2,500 tree seedlings. 

 Many acre plats were planted to determine their suitability for grow- 

 ing seedlings of the different species in that region. Cooperation 

 was carried on with the Forest Service in two of its projects, and the 

 department also worked with private owners in the State in making 

 forest plantations and in the management of forest areas. 



