284 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



EEPORT OF THE SOILS SECTION. 



Director R. S. Shaw: 



This has been our most successful j^ear. The field investigations of 

 the soils of the State were vigorously pursued, there being in progress 

 35 cooperative projects in widel}^ separated areas of the State. In ad- 

 dition fifty top dressing experiments were conducted in which nitrate 

 of soda and ammonium sulfate were emplo^'ed. The success of this 

 work is due in no small degree to the enthusiasm, energy and judg- 

 ment of G. M. Grantham and C. W. Simpson. These activities should 

 be greatly extended and in fact our plans call for such. 



The field investigations must be supported by laboratory studies. We 

 are doing this. The physical studies of Bouyoucos on the solubility of 

 minerals and soils, the moisture and te'mperature relationships, are 

 far reaching in their importance. Comparison of cropped and virgin 

 soils by Millar should be noted as well as the studies of Spurway on the 

 effects of fertilizers on soils. Moreover I desire to bring to your atten- 

 tion the phj'sicial and chemical investigations of peat and muck soils 

 that are in progress. Inasmuch as our knowledge of several of these 

 phases is very meager we have considered it prudent to consider them. 



Our cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Soils is satisfactory, 

 Dr. C. F. Marbut assuming a very liberal and broad minded attitude. 

 L. 0. Wheeling capably acted in the capacity of State Leader in Berrien 

 county. The reconnoissance survey undertaken several years ago h-is 

 been continued with gratifying results. 



Mr. Ezra Levin joined the section in the early spring and has assumed 

 a proper attitude towards the organization. This transference should 

 result in a unification and correlation of the peat and muck work in the 

 State, in the absence of which maximum efficiency can not be obtained. 



Respectfully submitted, 



M. M. McCOOL, 



Soil Physicist. 

 East Lansing, Michigan, June 30, 1920. 



