136 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



in cheese have been investigated, and studies of the normal and 

 abnormal bacterial flora of cheese have been continued. An attempt 

 is being made to work out a uniform classification of bacteria, using 

 as a starting point the bacteria of the soft rot of vegetables. 



Experiments on the use of concentrated by-products in poultry 

 feeding and on breeding poultry are being continued and are becom- 

 ing each year more valuable as a reliable basis for definite conclu- 

 sions on many scientific and practical points. A study of the 

 organic phosphorous compounds of feeding stuffs has yielded many 

 important results bearing upon the metabolism, laxative, and other 

 physiological functions of these compounds in the case of milch cows. 



Conclusive results were secured by the entomologists from tests 

 of applications of sulphur washes for controlling the San Jose 

 scale, and under certain conditions this practice is recommended. 

 The life history and systematic relationships of apple and pear mites 

 have been satisfactorily established. 



Other lines of work have included field and forcing-house work 

 upon some of the problems of plant nutrition and soil fertility, the 

 feeding of steers and heifers upon home-grown or purchased protein, 

 a test of a milking machine, an investigation of the action of acids on 

 casein in forming insoluble compounds, chemical studies of kumys 

 and of carbonated milk, investigations of alfalfa diseases and alfalfa 

 dodder, continuation of the work in spraying potatoes and in study- 

 ing the influence of seed potatoes on the yield, test of oils for scale 

 treatment, and studies of poplar weevil, apple maggot,^ and root 

 nuiggots. 



The demonstration experiments have continued to increase. 

 Spraying and fertilizer trials, tests of the economy of dwarf orch- 

 ards, and other questions of orchard management have been carried 

 on. The station has cooi^erated with the Bureau of Plant Industry 

 in the cold storage of fruit, and with the Bureau of Entomolog}' 

 on wheat insects. 



A number of changes occurred during the year in the personnel, 

 notably the resignation of the associate chemist and the addition of 

 assistants in horticulture, botany, entomology, and bacteriology. The 

 plan agreed upon for the division of the Hatch funds between the 

 two stations in New York was continued for tlic Adams fund, so 

 that but one-tenth of (hat appropriation is axaihiblc to this station. 



The publications of this station receivetl during tlic year were as 

 follows: Bulletins 2(58, Inspection of feeding stuffs; '269, AVinter 

 injury to fruit trees (with j)opular edition) ; 270. The quality of 

 commercial cultures for legumes (w ith j)oi)nlar edition) ; 271, The 

 adaptability of concentrated by-products for poultry feeding; 272, 

 Keport of analyses of samples of fertilizers collected by the commis- 

 sioner of agriculture diii'ing I'.H),"): 27)^. S])raying for tlie San Jose 



