198 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



NEW EXPERIMENTAL FARM AND QUARANTINE STATIONS 



As stated in my last report, a farm of about 475 acres, located at 

 Beltsvillc, Prince George County, Md., about 13 miles from Wash- 

 ington, was purchased under an appropriation made by the appropria- 

 tion act for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending 

 June 30, 1911. This farm was intended for experimental work in 

 animal husbandry and dairying. For several years it had been con- 

 sidered very desirable to separate work of tins kind from that relating 

 to infectious diseases as carried on at the Bureau Experiment Station 

 at Bethesda, Md. During the past year considerable work in the way 

 of building, fencing, and equipping the Beltsvillc farm for work for 

 wliich it is intejided has been carried on, and the work of breeding and 

 feeding animals and poultry has been transferred there from the 

 Bethesda Station. 



With an appropriation of $65,000 made by Congress two quarantine 

 stations have oeen purchased, to replace rented or^es, for the detention 

 of imported animals brought in at the ports of Boston and Baltimore. 

 The station for Boston is located at Littleton, Mass. The Baltimore 

 station is located on the water front and makes it possible to transfer 

 live stock by lighter directl}' from the steamer to the station. 



BREEDING HORSES FOR THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 



As pomted out somewhat at length in my last report, there is great 

 need for the Government to undertake some SA'stematic plan for 

 encouraging the breeding of horses of a type suitable for Army use. 

 The breeding of this type of horse is declining lapidly in favor of 

 breeding heavier horses, and it is becoming evidt^nt that if the Army 

 is to be able to procure an adequate number of suitable horses in the 

 future some plan such as has been recommended will have to be 

 entered into. During the year a hearing on this subject was held by 

 the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, but 

 no special appropriation for such work was made by Congress. How- 

 ever, the bureau has made a small beginning, the slight expenses of 

 the work being paid from the appropriation for animal feeding and 

 breeding experiments. During the year Air. August Belmont pre- 

 sented to the War Department two well-known Thoroughbred 

 stallions, Henry of Navarre and Octagon, and, at the request of the 

 Secretary of War, the Department of Agriculture consented to take 

 the stallions and stand them for [)ublic service under the provisions 

 of the plan outlined in the preceding report. The stallions are at the 

 remount station of the Army at Front Royal, Va., and have been bred 

 to about 50 mares, each mare owner agreeing to give the Govern- 

 ment an option on the foal at three years at SI 50 in return for stallion 

 service. The conditions for service also provide for disqualifications 

 for faulty gait and conformation and unsoundness. 



VETERINARY EDUCATION. ' 



In order to obtain nualified veterinarians for its service, the bureau, 

 in conjunction with the United States Civil ^Service Commission, lias 

 continued its investigations and supervision with regard to the 

 courses of study and facilities for instruction at veterinary colleges. 

 This work may be better under.'^tood from a brief review, including 

 the circumstances leading up to it. 



