60 STATE BOARD OF AGRICL'LTURE 



mand experiments iu the orchards of commercial fruit growers. I am 

 glad to report that the practical horticulturists cooperate with the Station 

 in carrying forward this valuable set of experiments. 



An interesting detail of experimental work is the breeding of bees with 

 longer tongues, by the apiarist. It is to be hoped that the continued 

 selection and breeding will result in the development of a race of honey 

 bees able to extract nectar from the clover blossom. 



I submit herewith, as part of this report a statement by Prof. Mumford, 

 concerning the livestock experiments for the year ending June 30, 1899, 

 and the regular stated reports of the Agriculturist, the Horticulturist, 

 the Chemist, the Apiarist and a full set of the bulletins issued during the 

 year. 



Respectfully submitted, 



C. D. SMITH, 



Director. 

 Agricultural College. Mich., 

 June 30, 1899. 



REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 



Professor Clinton D. Smith, Director of Experiment Station: 



I herewith submit the Annual Report of the Agricultural Department 

 of the Experiment Station for the year ending June 30, 1899. 



The work of the agriculturist for the period covered by this report has 

 been confined more to planning and inaugurating than to recording re- 

 sults. 



The department has under its charge a portion of Field 3, set aside for 

 experimental work some ten years ago, and divided into one-tenth acre 

 plots, the whole of Field 6, about three acres of muck land in Field 13, 

 all the College woods, and the pine plantations along the west line of 

 the farm and in Field 21. There is a small, well arranged barn for the 

 storage of grain and tools, and the preparation of seeds and fertilizers. A 

 pair of horses which do practically all the work, and a few^ tools make up 

 the equipment of the department. Tw'o men are employed during the en- 

 tire season, and four students during the summer vacation. The above, to- 

 gether with the students assigned to the department during the Spring 

 and Fall terms, make up the labor force of the department. 



SHRINKAGE EXPERIMENT. 



An exfjeriment to determine the shrinkage of stored grain and hay has 

 been completed, and the results are ready for publication. 



Considerable quantities of clover hay, timothy hay, oats, wheat, corn, 

 and Hungarian grass seed were carefully weighed and stored at harvest 

 time, and again weighed after being stored for a period, to determine the 

 loss. 



Variety tests of wheat which can only be conducted on large areas are 

 being made on the College fields. The work of this test so far as it ap- 

 plies to the simple production of the wheat crop is done by the College, 

 the Experiment Station attending only to such details as measuring the 

 ground, preparing the seed, weighing the crop and noting and recording 

 the results. 



