226 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Kent, Saginaw, St. Clair and Schoolcraft, to almost daily investigation 

 at times in the counties where cholera had been prevalent earlier, — 

 Branch, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, St. Joseph, and also Van Buren ; in Lena- 

 wee county, the agent gave parts of 112 days, to the work. A total of 77 

 cases in thirteen counties has been reported this year, with no extended, 

 outbreak in any locality. The value of community action has been dem- 

 onstrated by the results of this year's work. In all of the counties where 

 the work has been carried on for the past two or three years it is stated 

 that reports of outbreaks are now made promptly to the County Agent 

 and that almost without exception he and the veterinarians find the 

 parties involved willing to cooperate in treatment of herds, disinfection 

 of premises and in establishing and maintaining quarantines. Two cases 

 of tuberculoisis among hogs were found. Among cattle eleven herds and 

 215 individuals were tested for tuberculosis; two herds and 35 individ- 

 uals were found affected and were killed. Two outbreaks of hemorrhagic 

 septicaemia have occurred but no spread of the disease followed. Five 

 counties conducted work for the control of contagious abortion. 



POULTRY. 



Twelve counties report work with poultry. In cooperation with the 

 Poultry department plants were inspected ; assistance was given in the 

 selection and purchase of poultry ; in making plans for poultry houses 

 and ventilating systems ; in setting up incubators and starting farmers 

 in the use of them; in the formation of poultry clubs; in feeding prob- 

 lems; in control of diseases and in marketing of eggs. In Iron county 

 a local bank agreed to assist in financing pure bred poultry work for 

 clubs. In Menominee and Marquette counties egg producers' associa- 

 tions were formed ; in the latter four poultry meetings were held. 

 The high price of eggs has caused an interest in the poultry industiy. In 

 Manistee county a poultry show was held; this revived interest in the 

 county association and monthly meetings were planned. 



FARM MECHANICS. 



Many requests for assistance in farm engineering problems have come 

 to the agents. In fifteen counties in cooperation with the Department 

 of Farm Mechanics, much assistance has been given in selecting suitable 

 sites for farm buildings; in planning twentj^-two general purpose barns; 

 ten dairy barns; one beef feeding barn; two milk houses; six silos; in 

 ]>lanning and installing iwo liydrnulic rams; in estimating cost of ma- 

 terials lor various im[»rovemeiits; and in selecting baiJi equipment. The 

 agents have emphasized the importance of good housing conditions for 

 stock; as a result they have been called upon to assist in remodeling 

 several barns and in planning thirty ventilating systems. In a few cases 

 they have taken prospective builders to see modern barns. Dickinson, 

 Gogebic, Houghton, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft counties have given much 

 attention to plans for barn buildings. In Schoolcraft county where a 

 number of farmers are contemplating the building of barns, the agent 

 built a small model of the braced rafter construction; this proved to 

 be of real interest and led to several requests for plans and lists of mar 

 terials. In Kent count}- the agent assisted in working out floor plans 

 for a barn which is to serve as a demonstration. 



DemanstratiQiis of improvements in farm homes have been conducted 



