126 KKPORT OF OFFICE OF KXPEKIMKNT STATIONS. 



pleted will atTord better niid iiioi'e nearly adecjuate (piai'ters for a 

 lumiher of the station deixiitnients. 



Tlie state lefrislatnie (hirin<r tins year enacted a law relative to 

 seed inspection and the organization and coiidiict of this woik was 

 ])lafed under the supervision of the dii'ector of the station. 



The four Adams fund ])rojeets studied are each subdivided and 

 assi<jned to certain invest i<>:ators. Projrress was reported on pi'ac- 

 tieally all the projects. Investigations on the bacterial factors de- 

 termining the (pialities of milk and huUei- were continued, and a 

 second report on the keeping quality of butter was prepared. It was 

 found that salted butter through leakage loses more water when 

 stored than does unsalted butter, and the results further indicated 

 that the quality decreases as the content of amid nitrogen increases. 

 Some of the micro-organisms found in butter were observed to mul- 

 tiply slowly at —0° C. in salted butter. 



The study of agents rendering available the insoluble elements of 

 the soil is a cooperative undertaking. The soil physicist is studying 

 the temperature relations and is attempting to perfect a new soil 

 thermometer. The chemist is studying the soluble and insoluble 

 phosphates of the soil, the assistant chemist the availability of the 

 nitrogenous compounds in the soil, the assistant botanist the physio- 

 logical efi'ect of root excretions on plant growth, and studies are also 

 in progress on the bacterial factors, with special reference to render- 

 ing soluble the insoluble phosphates. The results secured in study- 

 ing the availability of the nitrogenous soil compounds were pre- 

 pared for publication, and the results of the preliminary study of the 

 agents rendering soluble the insoluble phosphates have apjaeared in 

 bulletin form. 



According to a preliminary report on the investigation of swine 

 epidemics, it w-as demonstrated that the Dorset-Niles hyperimmuniza- 

 tion process results in the production of agglutinins and inunune 

 bodies for Bacillus cholercp suis, but the nature of these innnune 

 bodies nor the constancy with which they occur has not as yet been 

 determined. In connection with the hog-cholera investigations, the 

 State has provided $1,500 for the manufacture of serum, which is sold 

 at the rate of 2 cents per cubic centimeter, 22 to 25 cubic centimeters 

 being required for 100 pounds live weight of a hog. 



The fourth project involves extensive investigations of the respira- 

 tory systems of insects, in a study of the method by which contact 

 insecticides are effective. This project, which is pursued by the 

 entomologist and a research assistant, also includes studies on fungus 

 parasites of sawflies and other insects. 



In addition to the Adams fund investigations, a large amount of 

 work is carried on under the Hatch and other funds. In the depart- 

 ment of animal husbandry, expermients with horses, cattle, and 



