EXPERIMENI STATION REPORTS. 1S9 



When it is considered that the dried peat coutains from 2 to 4% 

 of nitrogen and in some cases as much as 5 or 0%, it will be realized 

 that a valuable source <jf nitrogen is right here at our hand. But 

 the question is, how can it be made available? 



lu order to better understand the problem in hand it was thought 

 best to first determine in what forms the nitrogen is present in the 

 peat and with this narrower problem Dr. Jodidi has been busy. No 

 definite conclusions have been reached as yet. 



OtJier lines of work looking to the utilization of the peat will be 

 undertaken as soon as ojjportunity permits. 



During the past winter an experiment was undei-taken in the green- 

 house to determine the availability of the nitrogen of dried peat for 

 growing crops. Three crops possessing difl'erent feeding powers were 

 selected for the test, namely : oats, peas and carrots. The chemical 

 Avork has not Ijeen completed, conseciuently, it is not possible to give 

 any data of the experiment at this time. 



It was found necessary to discontinue our work on the availability 

 of the phosphorus compounds in the soil during the past year but it 

 is hoped to take this work up again in the fall. 



HATCH FUND. 



During the past winter we were called upon by the agronomy division 

 to determine the protein in more than 400 samples of corn that w^ere 

 used in the work on corn breeding and selection. This led to a con- 

 sideration of the variation of the protein in the individual kernels of 

 the same ear. It has always been supposed that the protein content 

 of the kernels of a single ear was uniform or at most, varied only 

 .slightly. The results of our investigations showed variations as great 

 as five per cent between kernels on the same ear and in close proximity 

 to each other and that variations as great as two and three per cent 

 are very common. It is desired to continue this work still further 

 during the coming winter. Mr. C. B. Collingwood has performed the 

 work in connection with this investigation. 



The fertilizer experiment begun last year in conjunction with Mr. 

 Sackett of the bacteriological division on the Howarden farm at 

 Fidwardsburg, Mich., is being continued during the present season. Mr. 

 A. U. Potts has rendered very valuable service in looking after the 

 practical end of the experiment. The soil is responding to fertiliza- 

 tion and liming and very interesting results were obtained this year 

 on the clover plots. The original plan of continuing the experiment 

 five years before making a report will be carried out. 



KKKTI LIZi:U INSPECTION. 



The results of the fertilizer inspection for 1907 revealed the fact 

 that a few companies were apparently not making any eftort to have 

 their goods conform with their published guarantees. No prosecutions 

 were made however but the publication of the results in the bulletin 

 sin'ved io call the attention of the consnming public to the shortages 

 and in many instances settlements were made u]K)n the results of the 

 station's findings. 



