126 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



manj' parts of the State. A factory has just commenced operations 

 at Billings, and others are being planned elsewhere. Tests have been 

 made of a large number of varieties of wheat, barle}^, oats, potatoes, 

 and forage plants with and without irrigation, and some attention 

 has been given to fertilizer experiments, rotations to conserve fertility, 

 the rate of seeding and nurse crops for alfalfa and seed production 

 with cereals. A cooperative test of the acclimation of corn has been 

 made in the Yellowstone and Bitter Root valleys. A well-equipped 

 soil physics laboratory has been provided for the agronomy work. 



The chemical work of the station has been confined mainly to tests 

 of quality of the sugar beets grown in different parts of the State, 

 studies of poisonous plants, methods of treatment of locoed sheep, 

 and miscellaneous analytical work. In dairying some investigations 

 have been made as to the effect of age on the .yield, quality, and 

 character of the butter fat, and on the comparative influence cf 

 rennet and cheese pepsin on the yield, texture, and quality of cheese. 

 The breeding up of ordinary Montana cattle has also been under- 

 taken. The horticultural work has included the domestication and 

 improvement of some of the native fruits, the enlargement of the 

 nurseries and fruit plantations, the thinning of fruits, the effect of 

 staking on the'maturing of tomatoes, and the transplanting of onions. 

 About 5 acres of additional land has been purchased for this depart- 

 ment, increasing its ground to about 15 acres. 



The facilities in animal husbandry are being steadily improved. 

 During the past year there were carried on experiments in pasturing 

 cattle, testing the economy of grain in feeding cattle and sheep, and 

 supplementing grain with clover, tankage, and skim milk in feeding 

 pigs. Some work in pig breeding has been undertaken, the poultry 

 plant has been enlarged, and ah additional assistant has been 

 appointed. 



The publications of this station received during the year were 

 liulletins 56, Native economic plants of Montana; 57, Pig feeding 

 experiments; 58, Steer feeding experiments; 59, Sheep feeding, 1908—1 

 and 1904-5; and 60, Onion growing in Montana; and the Annual 

 Report for 1904. " 



The income of the station during the past fiscal year, besides funds 

 contributed by the State and corporations for the experiments in 

 dry farming, was as follows : 



Uuited states appropriation. Hatch Aft .$1.5.000.00 



I'uited States aitijropriation. Adams Act .I. 000. 00 



State api)ro[)riation r,, 424. 44 



Farm products 4. 82."). 62 



Total _ 30,250.00 



