260 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



The horticultural department gave attention to disease-resistant 

 stocks for the Grimes Golden apple for the purpose of overcoming 

 the short-lived character of this variety and to the determination 

 of methods and practices which will enable the continuous growing 

 of peaches with profit upon the same land. A series of experiments 

 was carried on in cooperation with growers on the use of fertilizers 

 for orchards, potatoes, and tomatoes, and a study was made of the 

 most profitable means of disposing of the poorer grades of apples. 

 Observations were made on the effect of soluble oil sprays on the 

 growth of young apple trees and on the use of lime of different 

 purities in the preparation of spray mixtures. Demonstrations were 

 conducted in a number of counties of the State in cooperation with 

 farmers and orchardists for the purpose of stimulating the practice 

 of spraying fruit trees. 



The entomologist continued comparative tests of eastern and west- 

 ern methods for controlling the codling moth, and made a prelimi- 

 nary report on the work. Thus far the results show that the so-called 

 high-pressure western method of combating the codling moth is not 

 superior to the method in general use in the East. A study was also 

 made of a serious attack of walking sticks on peach orchards and data 

 were collected on a brood of periodical cicada due this season. At- 

 tention was further given to wasp epidemics and the natural enemies 

 of these insects. 



The work of the station supported by State funds comprised the 

 official enforcement and administration of the State laws concerning 

 commercial fertilizers, studies on the effectiveness of Bordeaux-ar- 

 senate mixtures in controlling diseases of the potato, experiments in 

 the growing of edible mushrooms in worked-out coal mines, investi- 

 gations concerning the tomato-canning industry in the State, includ- 

 ing extensive variety tests, fertilizer experiments on young and bear-- 

 ing orchards, and tests of Jersey, Ayrshire, and Kerry cattle and 

 their crosses with regard to their adaptability as dairy animals under 

 West Virginia conditions. A record was kept of the milk production 

 of these different dairy breeds, together with the percentage of fat 

 and the weight of the animals. 



Among other miscellaneous lines of work followed by the station 

 may be mentioned the inspection of grain and grass seed, bacterio- 

 logical analysis of waters, fertilizer and insecticide control work, a/nd 

 the improvement of the incubator. The inspection of orchards and 

 the devising and enforcement of means for the control and destruc- 

 tion of orchard pests were continued with increasing beneficial effects 

 upon the horticultural industry of the State, and was supported by 

 a special State appropriation for the purpose. Cooperative work 

 with farmers consisted chiefly in the continuation of efforts to deter- 

 mine the best method of exterminating internal parasites of sheep, 



