108 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS, 



rapacity of theso animals to digest and assimilate feeding stuH'< will 

 be conij)are(l witli the same <'h!irnrt<>r in good representatives of the 

 best berf and dairy bnvds. A method of investigation was worlccd 

 out for the pi-oject on the relation of hnmns to crop jjrodiiction nndcr 

 different svstems of soil mana";enient. 



A considerable number of ex]x>riments were carried on by the 

 various dejiartments of the station with the Hatch fund. The de- 

 partment of horticulture continued its experiments with apples 

 and plums in cooperation with individuals, the state horticultural 

 society, and this Department. Observations on cold storage for Iowa- 

 grown apples were brought to a close and the results prei)ared for 

 publication. Other lines of work still in progress included experi- 

 ments with apple stocks for orchard top working in Iowa, with 

 the sand cherry as a stock for the plum and cherry, and with 

 other stocks for use in orchard and nursery. A study was also made 

 of orchard varieties and of trees and shrubs for ornamental j Want- 

 ing and for groves and windbreaks. The work in forestry was 

 continued as previously planned. 



The cheiTiist, who is cooperating with the animal husbandry de- 

 partment, continued the study of the cause of calodi in sheep, to- 

 gether with digestion experiments with pigs to determine the effect 

 of stock foods combined with corn. (Observations on the sugar 

 content of pumpkins of different generations were also made. The 

 investigations on the corrosion of fence wire in cooperation with 

 the department of agricultural engineering were completed, and the 

 results are soon to be published. 



The department of soils and farm crops was consolidated into a 

 department of agronomy. The work in soils and farm crops during 

 the past year was along the same lines as heretofore. The investi- 

 gations on the peaty swamp soils of Iowa were completed. 



The department of animal husbandry brought to a close the experi- 

 ments Avith corn silage for fattening steers, and an investigation to 

 determine the value of succulent feed for lambs was made. Among 

 other studies made by this department may be mentioned sheep feed- 

 ing, milk production of sheep, and feeding experiments with work 

 horses and with hogs. In dairy husbandry the individuality of cows 

 of different breeds was studied, and feeding experiments with calves 

 to determine methods for rearing them without milk were conducted. 

 (PI. V, fig. 1.) 



The poultry work was principally along the line of breeding for 

 increased egg production. Work was also done on feeding and man- 

 agement of poultry for meat production, the determination of sex of 

 the chick before hatching by examination of the air cell during 

 incubation, and on methods of caring for chicks in the brooder. 



The botanist continued the testing of seeds and the studies of 

 fungus diseases and of weed eradication. 



