248 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



The farrowing pens are provided with heat coils to protect early 

 litters. Steam for heat and feed cooking is provided by a horizontal 

 boiler taken from a discarded traction engine. The boiler, the well, and 

 water system are located in a separate cement block building about 

 forty feet from the main building. 



The correspondence pertaining to farm conveniences and farm build- 

 ings is increasing greatly. Many of the inquiries to be satisfactorily 

 answered require special plans and sketches; especially is this true of 

 problems of remodeling, ventilation, and septic tank installations. 



, DRAINAGE AND LAND CLEARING. 



In drainage little work of an investigational nature has been possible 

 in the last year. The Extension Specialist who hoped to carry out some 

 experiments in determining water levels in the soil has not had time 

 to carry out this work. A few test wells for vertical drainage were 

 made by the Land Clearing Specialist while in the southern part of the 

 State last year. This work should be further tried to determine the 

 percentage of cases in which success may be expected by this method 

 for draining the large number of post holes prevalent in Michigan 

 farms. Some experimental work should also be started in the Upper 

 Peninsula as the value of drainage to that section of the state should 

 be determined. 



The work of testing tile has been continued, although no special effort 

 has been made to extend the application. 



Some study has been made by the Land Clearing Specialist by col- 

 lecting information on the utilization of native timber and the use 

 of easily made devices by the settler on the new farm. This summer 

 work is also being done by methods of plowing new ground at the 

 Chatham Station. Horses and tractors and different types of plows 

 are being tried. 



Last April we began work on the development of low cost equipment 

 for handling marl. Marl is being handled in a commercial way to 

 some extent by contractors who use high cost equipment and the limited 

 use of marl where its value is not fully understood, has not permitted 

 rapid development of this method of handling. It is felt that the smaller 

 outfit might be of great value in introducing the use of marl and in the 

 educational and demonstrational value which simple and inexpensive 

 equipment would have. 



Experiments have been made principally with the dragline and bucket 

 plans of handling. Special attention has been directed to developing a 

 small bucket which will handle the material satisfactorily. It is felt 

 also that practical results can be obtained before the close of the season, 



Other minor co-operative and experimental work is being carried out. 

 Tests w^ere conducted on a special lattice type tractor wheel which gave 

 excellent results on loose and sandy soil. This would be of value for 

 many Michigan farms. The use and test of the simple Lime Spreader 

 have been continued. 



Yours very truly, 



H.H. MUSSELMAN, 

 Professor of Farm Mechanics. 



