238 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



such as red clover, sweet clover, or peas, and in some tests the crop 

 is plowed under while in others it is removed. The soils of the 

 various plats were sampled and analyzed. Work on the histological 

 and bacterial features of lumpy jaw was continued with improve- 

 ments in the technique. Culture characters of the pus were studied 

 and a record of cases was kept. The study on the digestion coefficient 

 of South Dakota grain and forage plants, including brome grass hay, 

 alfalfa hay, corn stover, lowland and upland prairie hay, bran, and 

 Sixty-day and Swedish Select oats, when fed to horses, was practi- 

 cally completed during the year. Some preliminary work was done 

 on the effect of alkali waters in dairying. 



With Hatch funds the chemist continued his work on the breeding 

 of sugar beets in cooperation with this department. This work has 

 so far resulted in more than 40 different strains of selected beets, as 

 many more cross-bred varieties, and a number of single individuals 

 selected on account of unusual excellence. The aim of this line of 

 investigation is to establish purely American types of sugar beets 

 adapted in every way to the climatic conditions prevailing in the 

 sugar-beet zone, and to overcome the necessity of using imported 

 sugar-beet seed, much of which now results in beets varying widely 

 in sugar content within the same strain or variety. 



The botanist worked on the sexual stages of rusts, especially the 

 acidium cup fonns. Of the many species studied, so far only three 

 have proved favorable for the study of the sexual fusions. Fungus 

 diseases of the potato were also given attention, and spraying experi- 

 ments in this connection were earned on in cooperation with the 

 State entomologist. Observations were also made on fungi-attacking 

 insects, especially the house fly. The distribution of noxious weeds, 

 in particular the Canada thistle and quack grass, was studied to- 

 gether with methods for their eradication. In cooperation with the 

 veterinarian, the botanist took up an investigation of an animal 

 disease thought to be due possibly to ergot. 



The new alfalfas brought over by the horticulturist from Siberia 

 and other Asiatic countries were propagated in a limited way, and a 

 small surplus was raised of seven very hardy varieties and sent out to 

 station specialists and to other parties. The alfalfa work within the 

 State, including the alfalfa trials in progress at the substation, was 

 turned over to the agronomist. 



The dairy department studied the acidity of creamery butter in its 

 relation to quality, and found little or no uniform relation existing 

 betw^een the quality and the acidity of fresh butter. An acid test was 

 found to be a valuable criterion in determining the extent and 

 rapidity of deterioration in butter. A demonstration of cheap 

 methods of keeping ice on the farm for use in creamery and dairy 



