232 EEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



egg production, and observations were continued on the pheasant 

 and bantam hybrid produced in connection with this work. A new 

 project in the form of studies of the lime and magnesia requirements 

 of phants Avas begun during the year, the work the past season in- 

 ckiding experiments with lime, limestone, magnesian lime, and other 

 calcium and magnesium compounds. 



A large amount of experimental work, especially with field crops, 

 was conducted by the station with the Hatch fund. This work 

 included rotation experiments, liming soils, and observations on the 

 residual effect, and tests with corn, cover crops, alfalfa, clover, and 

 grasses. The station's practice of liming for clover and of fertilizing 

 grass land has been quite generally adopted throughout the State. 

 The station results with alfalfa have encouraged a number of farm- 

 ers in the State to take up the growing of this crop. In addition to 

 culture tests, studies were made on the adaptability of different 

 strains of alfalfa to local conditions and their resistance to disease. 



Further results in the rotation studies with rye, clover, and pota- 

 toes with the use of conmiercial fertilizers, including lime, indicate 

 that for the improvement of neglected soil, as well as for general 

 soil management, this method may be followed with success. The 

 general improvement of the soil was found to have far less beneficial 

 effect upon the rye crop than upon potatoes and clover. Results 

 of experiments in weed clestruction showed that iron sulphate may be 

 used to control the daisy in hay fields, mustard in cereal fields, and 

 dandelions on lawns, but that charlock is not readily controlled by 

 the use of this substance. The most satisfactory results were obtained 

 from the use of a 20 per cent solution, applying about 100 to 150 

 pounds of iron sulphate per acre, and by spraying only on bright 

 days, when the prospects for continued pleasant weather were good. 



The chemical department of the station studied the gain and loss 

 of nitrogen in soils due to the growth of legumes, some of the less 

 available sources of nitrogen in fertilizers, the effect of floats used in 

 connection with stable manure, and the wet method of making avail- 

 able the nitrogen in leather, wool waste, and similar substances. 



Studies were made of ropy milk or cream and its causes, and in 

 laboratory experiments carried on in this connection it was found 

 possible to produce ropiness in good milk or cream at will by inocu- 

 lating the same with small amounts of pure cultures of a micro- 

 organism regarded as probably closely related to BaciUus lactis vis- 

 cosus of Adametz. This organism was also isolated in pui-e culture 

 from the white specks in butter made from the ropy cream. 



The number of farmers of the State cooperating with the station 

 has been increased to nearly 150, being an increase of 50 during the 

 year. Other cooperative work in addition to the pigeon-breeding 

 experiments consisted of testing in the field newly propagated swamp 



