74 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



wi'st tliroujili tlio iior1h('i-n houndaries of Mason and Arenac couuties 

 that do nol contain laigi' areas well adapted to the growiuj;- of beets. 



As to the soil 1o be selected for beets the experience of 1899 goes to 

 show that in a very dry season a soil containinj^; considerable clay pro- 

 duces a much larp;er and better crop than one too sandy. The clay soils 

 must, of course, be fairly rich in «)r<;anic mattei- and in a hi<^h state of 

 culture. Sandy soils, while easily penetrated by the roots of the beets^ 

 dry out too readily unless well filled with decaying;; organic matter, I 

 call attention to the investigations of Trof. Towar as reported in bulletin 

 179, which follows. 



The investment of the large amount of money in the sugar factory- 

 shows that the raising of beets in Michigan has passed beyond the ex- 

 perimental stage, and the station in the future must devote its attention 

 not to the (juestion whether given localities can raise profitable beets, 

 but to the problems involved in the production of the largest amount of 

 sugar })(^r acre without injury to the fertility of the soil. The fertilizer 

 question is one of the earliest, therefore, to be undertaken. A careful 

 watch is kept on the insect and fungus diseases of the crop, with results 

 reported by Prof. Pettit in bulletin 180. 



The experiments still continue with the leguminous crops mentioned 

 in my last annual report. The sand lucerne has again maintained its 

 good reputation. The agriculturist of the station has distributed seed 

 of this valuable legume in selected localities of the State where it will be 

 of most value. Our aim is to s(H-ure, if possible, some legume that will 

 be reasonably certain to germinate and i)rodnce a crop of forage on the 

 sandy soils of the State now lacking in organic matter. 



The work on muck land continues with promise of important and val- 

 uable results. These experiments are scattered widely over the State^ 

 and the results will be predicated on trials under the widest variety of 

 conditions. 



Lack of funds has prevented the undertaking of experiments with live 

 stock as was hoped at the beginning of the year. Prof, Mumford ha» 

 conducted an investigation of the present status of the avooI production 

 in the State and the conditions which lessen the prices obtained for 

 Michigan products. The appearance of a timely and valuable bulletin 

 on the subject of Michigan wool cannot fail to be of great value to the 

 sheep raisers. The work with the grade dairy herd has been brought 

 to a conclusion in the spring of 1900. Much attention should be given 

 to this work with live stock in the future. The sheep industry is- 

 menaced by a ver}^ serious evil in the form of stomach worms and nodu- 

 lar diseases of the intestines. For the latter no known remedy exists. 

 No more promising field opens before the station than investigations 

 looking toward the discovery of some easily applied but efficient remedy 

 for this insidious disease. The call for work along the lines of hog 

 cholera is not as pressing this year as last. 



Prof, Marshall reports the conclusion of the work on tuberculosis^ 

 This line of experiments has cost the station a great deal of money, but 

 the results justify the expenditure. This is not the proper place to 

 review in detail the work accomplished. It is enough to say that a 

 definite and important addition has been made to our knowledge con- 

 cerning this disease, than which no more threatening and widespread 

 exists todav. 



