EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 167 



REPORT OF THE DTRErTOR OF EXin^:Rr:MENT STATION. 



To tlio IM'o^sidoiit : 



Sir: — Aoc'(»in]»aiiyinj.; tliis report aro the individual reports of the 

 various sections of the Ex])erinient Station. While these reports are 

 quite complete, I wish to direct your attention to some of the especially 

 interesting; phases of work in the various sections. 



This year completes the three-year project hy the Animal Husibandry 

 Section on "Stover Silage Versus Normal Silage for Fattening Steers.'' 

 Very interesting results liiave been secured on that project as well as 

 on the project on "Comparative A'alue of Michigan Grains for Swine 

 Feeding.'' 



The U. S. I). A. Sugar Beet Station for the humid area was trans- 

 ferred on April 1, from Blisstield to the Farm Crops Section of this 

 institution. One of the clover stations of the U. S. D. A. is also now 

 located at the Michigan Station. The ]dant breeding and cultural proj- 

 ects have continued to be. as valuable this year as during the previous 

 years. Southern European strains of clover seed were found to be in- 

 ferior to Michigan Red clover. The Chemistry Section is co-operating 

 with the Farm Crops Section in their project "Michigan Wheats and 

 Flours." 



The work of the Soils Section on the use of lime and fertilizers is 

 proving to be more valuable each year. The development of the Soiltex 

 Soil Reaction Test by Spurway is one of the outstanding developments 

 of the year. The soil survey work has also progressed satisfactorily. 



The Dairy Section has started some verj- careful and complete nutri- 

 tion ]»rojects. Some feeding and forage tests have also been completed 

 this year. Important results have l>een secured along the line of re- 

 search in dairy manufacture. 



The spraying, dusting, and fertilizing projects of the Horticultural 

 Section have been conducted with renewed vigor. Cultural and breed- 

 ing work have been carried on with small fruits and vegetables. The 

 South Haven peach, a new vai-iety developed at the South Haven Sta- 

 tion, gives promise of tilling a long-felt need of the peach grower. 



The Farm Mechanics Section has made notable progress in the develop- 

 ment of their marl excavation outfit as well as a home-made lime 

 si)i'eader. The work of the Forestrv Section in the studv of "Second 

 (Trowtli Hardwoods In Cut-Over Lands'' as well as other projects gives 

 promise of considerable value. 



The work of the Entomological Section in aiding in the control of 

 coddling moth, grapeberry moth, and chinch bug has been very satis- 

 factory. Dr. Chandler with his new vermifuge has been quite successful 

 in the control of intestinal parasites of the silver fox. 



Special progress of the work in poultry diseases and contagious abor- 

 tion is recorded by the Bacteriological and Pathological Sections. Cool- 

 edge's colorimetric hydrogen-ion method of determining the keeping 

 quality of dairy products has this year proved to be a very valuable 

 means of checking up on faulty dairy practices. Special work in the 



