208 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTxMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



A vast area of the western range is not available for sheep grazing 

 because of lack of water for livestock. The watering experiments at 

 Dubois involve the use of water from a well 750 feet deep, excess 

 flood water in open reservoirs, and water from snowdrifts protected 

 to prevent rapid melting. The well is the most dependable, though 

 the other two methods afford means of providing water cheaply for 

 a short time during the early spring grazing season. The daily water 

 requirements during dry weather have varied from approximately 

 two-thirds to three-fourths of a gallon a head. 



Ten paddocks and large fenced areas comprising about 4,000 acres 

 and several thousand acres of open range are being used for the 

 grazing investigation, which has not progressed far enough to yield 

 definite results. 



WOOL STUDIES. 



The fleeces produced by the experimental sheep used in the farm 

 and range projects are scored for weight, fineness of fiber, length of 

 staple, character, density, and distribution of fleece over the back. 

 The results of three years' work show that the sides of the fleeces are 

 more representative of the entire fleece than any of the other parts 

 as an indication of the grease, dirt, and clean wool content. Methods 

 of this work are presented in Department Bulletin 1100. 



MILK-GOAT INVESTIGATIONS. 



Continued improvement of the bureau's herd of milk goats at the 

 Beltsville farm since 1911 has resulted from the JDreeding up of 

 common American does by means of purebred Swiss Toggenburg 

 and Saanen sires of heavy milking strains. The herd contains 40 

 goats, including 2 purebred Swiss bucks. Records of breeding, feed- 

 ing, and milk production, and reports on the use of goats' milk for 

 infants and invalids, are kept on file. 



HORSE AND MULE INVESTIGATIONS. 



BREEDING AMERICAN UTILITY HORSES. 



• 



The project for the development of a breed of native American 

 utility horses for general farm and ranch work, conducted in recent 

 years at Bufl'alo, Wyo., in cooperation with the State of Wyoming, 

 was transferred at the close of the fiscal year to Laramie, Wyo., 

 where it is to be conducted in cooperation with the University of 

 AVyoming. According to terms of agreement 39 animals were se- 

 lected from the stud to go into the new work. The animals pro- 

 duced have shown continual improvement in uniformity and quality. 

 Several stallions produced in this project stood for public service 

 during the year. 



BREEDING MORGAN HORSES. 



The quality of the animals produced in the project for breeding 

 Morgan horses at the United States Morgan Horse Farm, Middle- 

 bury, Vt., has steadily improved. Wliile increased size has not been 

 emphasized, records indicate that there has been a gradual increase 

 in height and weight of the horses produced. Stallions from this 

 project stood for public service throughout New England, and 



