WISCONSIN. 265 



farm was 76 bushels per acre. Much of this work is carried on at 

 the substations in the northern part of the State. 



The horticultural department gave special attention to the study 

 of seedling apples, the introduction of new varieties of apples, rhu- 

 barb forcing, tomato breeding, tobacco breeding, and culture experi- 

 ments and fruit trials. A successful method was developed for secur- 

 ing suitable roots for forcing rhubarb. In the tomato-breeding work 

 strains resistant to the mosaic disease have been obtained, and eti'orts 

 are now centered on the improvement of the type of fruit formed. 

 The tobacco-breeding work is now centered on the further imi^rove- 

 ment of the type of seed by hybridization. The tobacco cultural 

 work bore generally on the use of cover crops, the application of 

 commercial fertilizers as compared with barnyard manure, and the 

 use of tobacco as a tilled crop in rotation. The fruit trials were con- 

 ducted cooperatively near Bayfield, a region favored by virtue of its 

 location, climatic conditions, and soil. The object of these trials is 

 to determine the varieties of apples, cherries, plums, and other fruits 

 adapted to the locality. 



In the organization of the work of the new plant pathology de- 

 partment attention was given to making a plant-disease survey of the 

 State, and, incidentally, observations were made on the tip burn of 

 the leaves in potatoes, scab, fire blight, and sun scald of apples, and 

 pathological conditions due to physiological as well as parasitic 

 causes in relation to cabbage, tobacco, peas, and ginseng, and other 

 special crops grown continuously on the same land. 



The entomological survey of the State showed that the San Jose 

 scale had established itself at a considerable number of places in 

 certain parts of the State. 



Investigations in agricultural economics included historical and 

 geographical studies with reference to the region of production of 

 crops and kinds of live stock in each census period from 1840 to 1900, 

 the study of farm tenures for the purpose of bringing together the 

 results of experience on the best methods of renting farm lands, and 

 making farm surveys to bring together the results of experience in 

 farm management. The rural economist also maintained an advisory 

 relation with the United States Census Office. 



The cooperative work of the Wisconsin station included cheese 

 work, the study of cranberry insects, the study of the history and 

 geography of agi-iculture and farm-accounting investigations with 

 this department, and work on the removal of stumps from cut-over 

 lands in cooperation with this department and the Minnesota experi- 

 ment station, making a State soil survey in collaboration with this 

 department and with the State geological and natural history sur- 

 vey, and the preparation of a new Wisconsin dairy map in coopera- 

 tion with the State dairy and food commission. 



