226 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



to be the prime factors. Some time has been given to this problem, 

 principally observing conditions in honses now in use. Considerable stndy 

 .should be given to this problem by making studies of house construction 

 and ventilation systems throughout the winter season. It is hoped that 

 a way may be found to do this work adequately. 



A number of projects have been carried through in designing buildings 

 to meet special requirements. AVhile those do not contribute much in the 

 way of scientific data they must be considered as problems and their 

 successful working out as contributing in a cumulative way to good 

 building practice. 



In Power Machinery the studies of costs in co-operation with the Farm 

 Management Department gathered from over 300 owners of tractors 

 have been completed. 



Some tests of new machines have been made. One of these a rotary 

 distributor lime sower has vshown disappointing results when used in 

 a medium to high wind. The other was a rotary gear pump sprayer which 

 bids fair to modify spraying practice if successful. Tests with' this 

 pump showed good volume and pressure in delivery, but the spray ma- 

 terials apparently seemed to interfere with the action of the pump. 

 Changes and improvements are being made in its design which may alter 

 its performance. 



We have considered tests of a windmill driven electric generating plant 

 now on the market but have not completed arrangements for the instal- 

 lation of the plant. 



A tractor mower attachment has been used on the far-m successfully this 

 year for the first time, the tractor being used for mowing, raking and 

 tedding. A second tractor was used for drawing the wagon and loader. 

 Two teams were kept on the road hauling and one at the barn operating 

 the hoisting rigging. 



A simple lim'e and marl distributor has 'also been developed. This 

 machine which can easily be built by the farmer or local mechanic at a 

 cost not to exceed .|20 makes it possible for the man who wishes to try 

 a few acres of lime or marl to do so at a permissible cost for spreading 

 equipment. 



In drainage little has been accomplished because no one has been in 

 position to concentrate on this problem. The Extension Specialist has 

 given some time to Experiment Station work in installing test wells on 

 the demonstration plots in St. Clair County for determining water levels 

 in the soil. Sample tile have been tested from all the factoiries except 

 three in Michigan. According to standards adapted by the American 

 Society ol Testing Materials, Michigan tile could be improved in several 

 respects. 



The Land Clearing specialist has been taking observations on methods 

 of clearing land. , One phase of this problem of particular interest to the 

 settler from out of the state is the utilization of material at hand on the 

 land for buildings, fences, ga^s and various other devices. This material 

 is being gatherd for use as soon as it can be classified and proven of value. 



The mechianical and engineering problems on the farm are of endless 

 variety. They are small in their individual applications but gigantic 

 in the aggregate. 



Teaching, conferences, and corres]>ondence have robbed men on the 

 College and Experiment Station staff of too much time to give sufficient 



