90 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



planting for commercial purposes. Of the comparatively new European 

 plums, Lincoln, Giant Prune, Grand Duke, Black Diamond and Monarch 

 are very promising as market sorts. 



A considerable amount of work with garden vegetables and small 

 fruit has been done during the present year and the results published 

 in bulletin form. 



L. R. TAFT, 



Horticulturist. 

 Agricultural College, Michigan, 

 June 30, 1903. 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



To Director C. D. Smith : 



The following is a brief account of the work done in live stock experi- 

 mentation since September 15, 1902. 



BEEP CATTLE. 



On October 23, 1902, twenty-four steers consisting of eighteen Short- 

 horn and six Hereford grades were purchased at the Union Stock Yards, 

 Chicago, for experimental feeding purposes. The experiment in which 

 they were used was the third of a series, the object being to determine 

 the most profitable form in which to use the corn product in beef making, 

 and also to secure data relating to the use of beet pulp for the same pur- 

 pose. These steers were divided into four lots of six each after having 

 undergone a preliminary test to secure some indications of the relative 

 performance of the individuals. The different forms in which the corn 

 product was fed were as follows, viz.: (1) Ensilage. (2) Corn-and-cob 

 meal and stover. (3) Shock corn. These materials were secured from 

 areas of equal size which had produced a uniform growth. 



DAIRY CATTLE. 



Since January 1, 1903, investigations have been in progress along the 

 following lines : 



(1) The use of various rations as regards economic production. 



(2) Results from the use of light or heavy grain rations. 



(3) Effect of alfalfa on quality of milk where substituted for clover. 



(4) Supplementing pasture with ensilage instead of grass. 



' ^ SHEEP. 



Experiment with dry beet pulp for fattening sheep. On January 

 9, 1903, thirty western wethers and twenty lambs were put on feed in 

 which dry beet pulp was one of the foods used. The wethers were divided 

 into two lots of fifteen each. During the test proper lot 1 received clover 

 hay and a grain ration consisting of corn 4, bran 2, oil meal 1 ; and lot 2 

 received clover hay, a grain ration consisting of corn 4, bran 2, oil meal 1, 



