EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 191 



Field beans for instance, is a very important and a staple crop 

 throughout much of the southern part of the state, but practically no 

 investigation has been made in this or other states in connection with 

 the growing of this crop. The study of the bean blight alone is an im- 

 portant and especially inviting field for study, as this disease is causing 

 thousands of dollars of damage to the bean industry of the state an- 

 nually and practically nothing is being done to control it. 



Other crops that should be studied are sugar beets, field peas, vetch 

 and clover as well as numerous other crops. It is hoped that well 

 trained men may soon be available for taking up work of this nature 

 with some of the more important of these crops. 



Respectfullv submitted, 



V. M. SHOESMITH, 

 Farai Crop Experimentalist. 



East Lansing, June 30, 1912. 



REPORT OF THE SOIL PHYSICIST. 



Director R. S. Shaw, College: 



Dear Sir — The year just closing has been marked by gratifying re- 

 sults. 



On June 20, 1911, Mr. George J. Bouyoucos entered upon his duties 

 as research assistant in this department. The work as previously 

 planned was along the line of the functioning of soils as rer/ards heat 

 and temperature. The behavior of soils along these lines in practice 

 does not seem to accord with previous suppasedly established theory; 

 while in many cases both theory and knowledge are lacking. 



During the year a goodly amount of work has been done, and the 

 data secured will add considerably to our knowledge and understanding 

 of soils. A fuller report of the work will later be ready in the form 

 of a bulletin, the manuscript of which is now in process of preparation. 



Two basement rooms in the Agricultural Building, especially adapted 

 to our needs for this investigation work, have been converted into 

 laboratories. One of these rooms is so located as to possess a relatively 

 constant temperature which makes it ideal for our work. 



Out-of-door work is also in operation, a fuller description of which 

 will appear later in another form. 



Some co-operative work is l)eing carried on in attempting to increase 

 the productiveness of certain worn-out soils. The results- are gratify- 

 ing. Visits have also been made to certain farms with a view to offering 

 advice in the way of soil management. 



Respectfullv submitted, 



JOS. A. JEFFERY. 



Soil Physicist. 



East Lansing, June 30, 1912. 



