DEPARTMENT REPORT'S. 55 



utility jud»>ing', latteud poultry meetings, organize poultry as'sociaitiouis, 

 conduct county poultr^^ short courses, clemons'trate i>oultry culling, in 

 laddition to experi mental and regular plant work. 



Kespectfully submitted, 



B. 0. FORIDMAN, 

 Associate Professor of Poultry Husbandry. 

 East Lansing, Michigan, June 30, 1022. 



EEPOKT OF THE SOILS DEPARTMENT. 



President David. Friday, 



College. 

 Dear Sir : 



It is with gratification that I present to you for the first time the report 

 of the Soils Department. There are several phases of the educational 

 work that I desire to bring to your attention. It does not seem possible 

 that a student who spends as many hours each week in the class room 

 and laboratory, as many of our students do, is able to devote suflQcient 

 time to original work. In other words he is not thrown upon his own 

 resources to a sufficient extent. It is my firm conviction that it is wrong 

 pedagogically, as well as uneconomical. We S'hould be able to alleviate 

 this condition, hoAvever, when the new library building is well stocked 

 with proper volumes. 



It is my judgment that the educational or extension work in soils in 

 the State is of utmost importance. It is true that there is a tremendous 

 shortage in acreage of leguminous crops and also in the production of 

 barnyard fertilizers. The latter is largely dependent upon the former, 

 whereas the legume situation is due in the main to soil conditions. An- 

 other point worthy of consideration, is, the superior varieties of grains 

 and other crops remain so for a relatively short time when widely dis- 

 seminated on unfertile soils. 



We are not in a position to meet satisfactorily many inquiries for 

 infonuation along the various lines; in fact, during the past year the 

 department has received and examined 1500 samples of soil. It is inter- 

 esting to note also that the majority of the samples were sandy in nature. 

 It is not possible for us to do much more along extension lines without 

 seriously interfering with the researches of the department, and where 

 men are engaged to conduct certain jnojeots, it is their duty to do 

 so enthusiastically and to the fullest extent of their ability. I do not 

 consider therefore that this phase of our work is receiving justifiable 

 financial support. The folloAving financial situation may be offered in 

 support of this statement : 



