112 REPORT OF OFFICP^ OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



mated for several months, Avith those from recent mating, demon- 

 strated the entire fitness of long-mated birds for breeders, and 

 monthly tests of eggs from the same pen showed no decrease in the 

 fertility of eggs after the hens had been laying steadily for five 

 months. Early laying was found in general to be a reliable indicator 

 of good laying qualities. Investigations in progress include the selec- 

 tion of breeding stock by the use of trap nests, studies of how hirge 

 a flock should be, how much floor space each fowl should have, and 

 a comparison of cut clover and mangolds as a i)art of the ration. A 

 residence for the poultryman has been erected at a cost of about 

 $1,800, the basement of which is occupied as an incubator cellar, with 

 space for sixteen incubators (PI. Ill, fig. 2). 



The nutrition investigations in cooperation with this Office have 

 consisted largely of digestion experiments with corn meal. The 

 results indicate thorough digestibility and comparative ease of 

 digestion. 



The entomologist has published reports on the cottony grass scale 

 and the strawberry girdler, and is now working chiefl}^ on plant lice, 

 their life history and relation to crop injury. A small insectary has 

 been built and equipped and the library, which was hitherto poorly 

 provided with entomological books, has received liberal additions. 



As a result of the passage of the Adams Act the department of 

 horticulture has been replaced by departments of pomology and vege- 

 table ])athology, W. M. Munson, the former horticulturist, becoming 

 pomologist and W. J. Morse, of the Vermont Station, being appointed 

 pathologist. The station has taken up work in seed inspection and 

 has published one bulletin giving analyses. 



The university has withdrawn almost entirely from the station 

 building, thereby affording the station enlarged quarters. A granite 

 building is being erected for a university library, for which Mr. 

 Andrew Carnegie has given $50,000 besides $5,000 for equipment. 



Increasing attention is being given to extension Avork. Reading 

 and correspondence courses in sixteen topics are now offered, and a 

 beginning has been made in introducing the study of agriculture and 

 horticulture into the normal schools. A " better farming special *' 

 train was run with the aid of the station, which was visited b}' over 

 20,000 people and proved a great success. 



The publications of this station received during the year were 

 the Annual Reports for 1904 and 1905 and Bulletins 116-129, as fol- 

 lows: 116 and 119, Food inspection; 117. Poultry experiments; 118, 

 Cereal foods; 120 and 127, Fertilizer inspection; 121, The cottony 

 grass scale; 122, Experiments in orchard culture; 123, The straw- 

 berry crown girdler: 124, Finances, meteorology, index; 125, Seed 

 inspection; 126, Field experiments in 1905 — The effect of the ration 



