lO'J REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



tlio injuries apparently not under control arc associated with unfor- 

 tunate weatluM' coiiditions. and ])art iculai'ly with the action of rain 

 and dew. 



'I'he invest iirat ions carried on with the Hatch and other funds are 

 ivunuM-ous and extensive. The work on soils, iiu-ludin^ fertility 

 stuiiies, soil analysis, soil .surveys, and similar work, was continued 

 and is bein*; enlar<red. 'I'he extension of the soil survey covered the 

 resurveying of three counties and the completion of four counties, 

 which practically finishes the work in twenty-eijrht counties of the 

 State. The object of the experiments in soil fertility is the estab- 

 lishment of a permanent system of agriculture on the different types 

 of Illinois land. The results give iiicreui^od evidence that in con- 

 nection with profitable farming operations the actual fertility of the 

 land may be improved, provided the fertilizers purchased are re- 

 stricted to phosphorus on certain lands of tlie State and to potas- 

 sium on others, with an occasional ai)plication of lime to correct 

 acidity. It is reported that land is coming to be valued in the State 

 according to its location, type, and fertility, as determined by the 

 soil survey. Analyses confirmed previous results by showing that 

 iarge .sections of the State are exceedingly deficient in potassium 

 and that tlie typical prairie soils are principally deficient in i)hos- 

 phorus. 



The dairy department has pursued investigations on the compo- 

 sition and quality of butter, which involved the handling of 10,000 

 pounds of butter for storage, 1,000 chemical analyses of cream, and 

 14,000 fat determinations. The object of the work is the adoption of 

 more profitable methods by the creamery industry. This depart- 

 ment is also managing a 20-acre dairy farm with a view to determin- 

 ing the highest possible production of milk per acre from feed raised 

 upon the 20 acres. The past year each 1.4;^ acres maintained a cow. 

 The feed consisted largely of corn silage and alfalfa, and the average 

 production per acre was f3,()()0 pounds of milk and 141 pounds of 

 butter. Strict accounts are kept in order to determine the possibility 

 of successful dairying on small farms. 



• 'The department of horticulture had considerable work in progress 

 throughout the State with fertilizers, drainage, spraying, and other 

 factors in connection with orcharding. Vegetable growing, particu- 

 larly the culture of melons, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce, is being 

 studied, and extensive experiments with carnations to test the value 

 of connnercial fertilizers and methods of application are in progress. 

 • In agronomy the plant breeding work with corn and clover was 

 continued, and breeding experiments with wheat, oats, and other 

 crops were begun. 



