EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 189 



In order to insure so far as possible the successful liberation of these 

 beneficial insects, a screened-in cage enclosing two larch trees in the 

 nursery. Avns built and the parasites which first emerged were turned 

 into this. Later when the northern sawfly started work the parasite 

 material was moved to the Upper Peninsula and specimens liberated 

 there. It is hoped that the parasites may gain a foothold and in time 

 make it possible to once more grow tamaracks in northern Michigan. 



Respectfully submitted, 



R. H. PETTIT. 



p}ast Lansing. Mich., June 30, 1911. 



Entomologist. 



REPORT OF SOIL PHYSICIST. 



Director R. S. Shaw, College : 



Dear Sir: — My annual report for the year just closing is not so 

 large as I had hoped a year ago that it might be. Over a year ago 

 I was authorized to procure a research assistant for this department. 

 The agreement was closed by which we were to procure a very excellent 

 man for the place but a variety of circumstances made it impossible 

 for him to take up the work. Later we procured the services of Mr. 

 George J. Bouyoucos. At the time we procured his services, Mr. 

 Bouyoucos was a student at Cornell University working for his doctors 

 degree. He was unable to take up the work with us until his work at 

 the university was completed. He took up his duties on the 20th of 

 June. This delay in procuring a research assistant has interferred very 

 largely with the work of this department as planned a year ago. We 

 are looking forward, however, with much hope to the year that is 

 before us. Some of the research work planned has been done however, 

 and while not a sufficient amount to warrant the publishing of results, 

 they are none the less valuable. 



This department has cooperated in the soils survey work in Roscom- 

 mon county. A number of mechanical analyses have been made of 

 the various types of soil found in the county. The results of these 

 analyses will appear in Mr. Raven's report. The work of analyses has 

 been done quite largely under Mr. Spurway's direction. Mr. Spurway 

 has also given attention to lines of work under the Hatch fund de- 

 scribed a year ago. 



Respectful Iv submitted, 



JOS. A. JEFFERY, 



Soil Physicist. 



East Lansing, Mich., June 30. 1911. 



