CALIFORNIA. 81 



maize and stock beots. Under a special state appropriation, cereal 

 investigations are conducted upon about 50 acres. The United States 

 Department of Agriculture is conducting irrigation investigations 

 upon 30 acres in methods of ap})lying water. On several smaller 

 areas eucalyptus trees are planted, variety tests of maize are under 

 way, and Egyptian corn and other summer crops grown. The larger 

 part of the farm is in hay and grain and is used experimentally as 

 the needs require. The Davis farm contains 780 acres of land, a 

 large part of which is well suited to experimental work. 



The station carried on work on a large number of projects sup- 

 ported wholly or in part by the Adams fund. Some new projects 

 were undertaken during the year and some of the older projects were 

 completed or discontinued. Investigations on the vitality and repro- 

 ductive power of trees were completed and reported upon. The 

 study of ornamental and economic plants in the Santa Barbara dis- 

 trict was completed and the results are ready for publication. The 

 investigations on the life history of the Argentine ant were prac- 

 tically completed during the year and a report on the work is in 

 course of preparation. Investigations on the communicability of 

 .California vine disease were abandoned. Experiments with ditch 

 linings, one report on which has already been published, were con- 

 tinued with other funds. Studies of the effect of arsenical poisons 

 on insects w^ere discontinued, but a report on the subject has been 

 prepared. The nutrition experiments begun in cooperation with this 

 Office have been discontinued. 



Work on the following projects was continued : Relation of marly 

 soils and of lime to chlorosis of citrus fruits; tolerance of plants for 

 alkali in soils; California peach blight; pear blight; artificial im- 

 munization of cattle against tuberculosis;" metabolism in poultry, 

 and availability of highly nitrogenous feeds; influence of environ- 

 ment on gluten content of grains; and red and yellow scales of citrus 

 trees. At the close of the year several other projects growing out of 

 previous work of the station were proposed. These include bacteria 

 in soils under arid conditions; the nature of physiological plant 

 diseases, like gum disease of citrus trees; causes of sterility of almond 

 trees; and nature and origin of Avalnut-oak hybrids. 



In addition to the Adams fund projects, investigations were made 

 on a variety of problems relating to the chemical, physical, and 

 bacteriological j)roper(ies of soils as related to productiveness; vari- 

 ous diseases of plants, particularly of tomatoes, celery, onions, citrus 

 fruits, ai)ples, peaches, apricots, pears, grapes, olives, nuts, and sugar 

 beets; improvement of wheat, alfalfa, and beans; crop rotations; 

 tuberculosis, and diseases of ])oultiy and other animals; insects 



"Spo r.ilifnnii;i Sta. liul. 199. 

 46040°— 10 «; 



