158 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



as to methods of haudliug frnit aud other crops have been received, and 

 to give this correspoiideijce proper iitteiition has takeu a kirge ainoimt 

 of time. 



lu carryiuj; on cooperative work it lias nol been possible to secure 

 as definite i*esults as might be wished because, as a rule, the parties 

 upon whose premises the experiments are conducted, althongh interested 

 in the results, are generally too busy at the time the crops are har- 

 vested to give the desired attention to weighing and noting results 

 secured from the different plots. In order to carry on the Avork to the 

 best advantage, several assistants who could keep a careful oversight 

 of the experiments and then, as they would not only have these results 

 available for the pnrpose, but Avould be well informed npon the methods 

 that are being used to secure the best results, they could be used to 

 advantage in sections of the state where they were in charge of the 

 experimental work as lecturers at farmers" institutes and other gather- 

 ings. I trust that some such provision can be made for the coming year. 



Respectfullv submitted, 



L. K. TAFT. 

 Horticulturist. 



East Lansing, June 30, 1908. 



KEPORT OF THE CHEMIi^T. 



Director K. t^. Shaw, East Lansing, Mich. : 



Dear ^Sir: — I submit herewith a brief report of the work of the 

 chemical division for the year ending June 30th, 1908. 



CHANGES IN THE STAFF. 



On October 1st, 1907, ]\Iiss Dorothea Moxness, who had "been an 

 efficient assistant in this division for Ji year and a half, resigned to 

 accept a more profitable position in industrial work. In filling the 

 vacancy it was desired to get a man of broad general training and one 

 with some experience in i-esearch work. In conformity with these 

 views the position of Research Assistant was created and Dr. S. L. 

 Jodidi appointed to fill it. 



Dr. Jodidi began his duties at the station February 1st, 1908, and I 

 can unqualifiedly speak in the highest terms of praise for his effici- 

 ency and devotion to the work. 



ADAMS FUN1». 



The Avork undertaken under the Adams fund has been confined to 

 a study of the agricultural value or availability of the nitrogen in 

 peat. 



About one seventh of ihe Stale of Michigan consists of swamp or i)eat 

 lands, the greater part of which is not used to any extent for agricul- 

 tural j)urposes. 



