VIRGINIA. 255 



attention. A lar<^e amount of work was done on the fixation of 

 phosphoric acid by soils, and tlie investigations on this subject 

 were extended to inchide cylinder experiments with four typical 

 soils of the State. The object of the work is to determine the con- 

 ditions under which fixation and the consequent unavailability for 

 plant gTOwth take place. Some of the studies on soil bacteria con- 

 ducted during- the year included the infection of root hairs by means 

 of Bacillus radieicola and some of the involution forms, the fixation 

 of nitrogen by means of Pseudomonas radieicola without the pres- 

 ence of a leguminous plant, and the experiments on denitrification 

 which were brought to a close. 



Investigations on curative treatment of tuberculosis in cattle were 

 continued, and the work was supplemented by an investigation on 

 the transmission of tuberculosis to hogs when they are fed on skim 

 milk from diseased animals and under other conditions. This work 

 is conducted in cooperation with this department. A considerable 

 amount of work was also done on the behavior of grazing lands under 

 various methods of treatment. This was also carried on in coopera- 

 tion with this department and with several farmers. Some very 

 striking results were obtained with reference to the effect of light and 

 heavy gi^azing upon the amount and character of the vegetation. In 

 this connection attention was also given to breeding better strains of 

 i)asture gi-asses and especially of blue grass. 



The endeavors to produce from pure-bred and cross-bred seedlings 

 a group of commercial apples blooming so late that the danger of 

 frost injury is reduced- were continued during the year, and progress 

 was made. Many of the seedlings secured are now ready for top- 

 working upon dwarf stocks. Incidental to this problem the effect of 

 temperature upon the blooming of fruit was investigated, and basal 

 data showing the value of different temperatures were secured by 

 bringing fruit buds to bloom under temperature control in incubatore. 

 The fermentation studies showing the possibility of controlling fer- 

 mentation by means of selected yeasts were completed, and the final 

 results were prejjared for publication. 



Some important studies of variations in bud formation were made 

 and reported upon during the year, and observations on the influence 

 of meteorological conditions on bud development were continued. 

 The investigations on relation of parasitic fungi and bacteria to 

 their host plants were along the line of enzym fonnation and action 

 in relation to plant diseases, such as cabbage black rot, bitter rot of 

 api^les, and tomato Fusarium. 



In addition to the Adams- fund investigations, the different depart- 

 ments of the station conducted experiments along a number of other 

 lines. The chemist had in progress a series of laboratory, pot, and 



