MONTANA, 139 



For the current biennium the station was given a state appropria- 

 tion of $12,500 per year for maintenance, an increase of $5,000 per 

 year, in addition to a like amount for the maintenance of the sub- 

 stations. For improvements $10,000 was granted for a sheep and 

 steer barn in addition to the pouUry phiut and sheds for young 

 stock, together with $8,000 for the substations. E. L. Tannatt, 

 engineer in the station, and AV. R. Fisher, horticuUurist, resigned 

 to engage in commercial work, the resignations taking effect at the 

 close of riie year. E. Burke, assistant chemist and meteorologist, 

 was appointed chemist and R. M. Pinckney was appointed assistant 

 chemist. 



Good progress was made on aJl the Adams fund jDrojects in hand. 

 Thus far the results secured in the project on the formation of 

 nitrates seem to show that no relation exists between nitrate content 

 and cultivation on irrigated land, while under dry-farming condi- 

 tions cultivation does affect the nitrate content of the soil. Data 

 in the soil moisture project seemed to indicate definite effects of 

 fallow, cultivation, and cropping on the depth of the moisture area 

 and the movement of moisture in the soil. The investigation on 

 the incubation of eggs has shown that no material increase in the 

 temperature of the top of the Qgg takes jilace as incubation pro- 

 ceeds, while the temperature of the bottom increases a number of 

 degrees. It also has been definitely determined that the hen gives 

 off considerable moisture and carbon dioxid when hatching. 



Considerable work Avas done on the disintegration of Portland 

 cement, and a bulletin reporting this work has been issued." The 

 chemical changes taking place Avhen cement is acted on by alkali 

 were determined as the cause of disintegration, and the work has now 

 been extended to the protection of cement structures from this 

 action. Results secured in connection with the wool project indicate 

 that great differences are found in the strength of the fiber from 

 different parts of the animal. The work on the arsenical compound 

 project was essentially a physiological study of the character and 

 amount of injury to trees. 



Definite progress on the project relating to the diseases affecting 

 the wood or bark of orchard trees is also reported. The entomologist 

 worked out species and determined life histories and other data 

 of sugar-beet insects. Work was also begun on a new project regard- 

 ing the control of the oyster-shell scale. Experiments thus far made 

 show that where sulphur remains on the trees the insects are 

 destroyed. 



The experiments under the Hatch Act are also put upon a project 

 basis. The work in agricultural engineering was transferred to the 



"Montana Sla. Hiil. Ci). 



