EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 285 



EXPElilMENT TO TEST THE VALUE OF VARIOUS MATERIALS ON THE TRUNKS 

 OF YOUNG FRUIT TREES TO PREVENT RABBIT AND FIELD MOUSE INJURY. 



Seventy-five young trees were painted with the following materials: 

 ("oncontrated Lime Sulphur, Lime Sulphur and Lime, Bordeaux Lime, 

 Sulfocide, Lime Sulphur and Arsenate of Lead, Arsenate of Lead. 



The trees were growing in a thick heavy sod, making conditions favor- 

 able for injury from mice. 



The only material that seemed to have any apparent effect was the 

 thick Bordeaux, as both early and late injury was apparent on practically 

 all the trees in the plot. This test rather demonstrates the futility of 

 painting the trunks of j^oung trees to prevent rabbit and mice injury 

 over winter. We would advise the use of the galvanized, four-mesh 

 screen as the best preventative. 



Considerable work was started by Mr. R. W. Peterson, Assistant 

 Horticulturist, on Vegetable Plant Selection. Mr. Peterson was called 

 into service and the work during the past year in this line was very 

 limited. It is hoped to develop and extend this field of experimental 

 work in the interest of the vegetable growers and the canning factories of 

 the State. 



Of the other lines of investigational work that have been continued 

 the past year there is nothing of special interest to report at this time. 



Mr. W. C. Button has acted as assistant horticulturist of the Experi- 

 ment Station during the entire year, being the only one in the section 

 giving his entire attention to experimental work. We wish to take 

 this liberty of expressing our appreciation for his services during the past 

 veai'. 



H. J. EUSTACE. 

 East Lansing, June 30, 1919. Horticulturist. 



REPORT OF THE SOILS SECTION 



Director R. S. Shaw, East Lansing, Michigan: 



It is with pleasure that I submit to you the report of the Soils section 

 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918. 



The experimental and research work has been vigorously pursued. 

 Five bulletins have emanated from this section, namely, Bulletin No. 91, 

 Some General Information on Lime and its Uses and Functions in Soil, 

 Bulletin No. 248, Some Information and Suggestions Concerning the 

 Uses of Phosphorus, Technical No. 42, Relationships Between the Unfree 

 Water and the Heat of Wetting of Soils and its Significance, Technical No. 

 43, Soluble Salt Content of Soils and Some Factors Affecting it, and Tech- 

 nical No. 44, Rate and Extent of Solubihty of Soils Under Different 

 Treatments and Conditions. 



The various projects under way are as follows: 



1. Soil management and studies. This involves investigations of the 

 moisture and structural relationships of soil fertilizer needs with special 

 reference to a proper balance of different elements of plant food, the im- 

 mediate and residuary effects of different forms of lime, acid phosphate 

 and raw rock phosphate respectively, the partial substitute of mineral 

 fertilizers for stable manure, sugar beet fertihzers and the value of top 

 dressing soils with mineral and organic fertilizers. These investigations 

 at present include thirty field projects in different parts of the State, 



