138 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



methods for determining the fertilizer requirements of soils, exami- 

 nation of soil solutions under different soil conditions detrimental to 

 crop production, and insects infesting timothy grass. Other lines 

 are to be carried on as formerly, but provided for from State funds. 



During the past year the work has proceeded as previously ar- 

 ranged, and has included a general study of root crops in relation to 

 forage j^roblems in the State, methods of culture of A'arious pasture 

 grasses and field crops, and breeding experiments with timothy and 

 clover. Variety testing of alfalfa, Indian corn, and dwarf niilo 

 maize has been continued, and studies of the relation between the 

 soluble plant food in the soil and plant growth have been undertaken. 

 The studies of the effects of environment on the chemical composition 

 of sugar beets have been brought to a close, and additional attention 

 devoted to experiments to increase the sugar content of sweet corn 

 by selection. 



Experiments in meat production and animal breeding have fol- 

 lowed the lines of previous j^ears. Additional investigations in ani- 

 mal industry include tests of milking machines, studies of the 

 economical production of sanitary milk and of market milk problems 

 in cooperation with the Bureau of Animal Industry, the making of 

 butter from whey, investigations of the early lamb industry, and 

 various feeding and housing problems with poultry. 



In horticulture attention has again been directed mainly to ex- 

 periments in shading plants, the effect of acetylene light as a supple- 

 ment of sunlight on their growth, ether forcing, and monographic 

 studies of beans and peonies. Some attention has also been given 

 to the propagation of the sour cherry, a study of oriental pears, and 

 minor investigations with vegetables. An orchard survey of Niagara 

 County is contemplated. Cooperative spraying experiments have 

 been carried on for curculio and the grape-fruit worm, and studies 

 are also reported on the rose chafer, cankerworm, and a number of 

 insects attacking shade trees. The plant pathologist has begun a 

 study of the '' little peach " in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, and has investigated a number of leaf diseases, notably of 

 the (juince, pear, plum, alfalfa, tomato, and ginseng. 



The extension work has been vigorously conducted and continues 

 to embody some unicjue features. A rural schoolhouse has been 

 erected recently at the college at a moderate cost, to serve as a model 

 for du])lication in the State. The reading courses for farmers and 

 farmers' wives continue to be popular, and 1,782 teachers Avere regis- 

 tered as participants in the school-garden movement. Several hun- 

 dred demonstration experiments were in })rogress in cooperation with 

 farmers. An awakening of interest in tlie college of agriculture by 

 the people of the State is shown by the cstablishincnt of seven grange 



