NORTH CAROLINA. 161 



out. The studies in nitrification have shown the ohl sohition method 

 to bo unreliable and work on devising new methods was instituted. 

 Seventy-one per cent of the Kaleigh soils failed to nitrify. State- 

 ments concerning this part of the work were recently published in 

 Science. 



In studying the relation of the geology and chemistry of soils to 

 productivity and fertilizer requirements, data have been collected for 

 44 plats on the station farm where different fertilizers have been 

 applied to corn and cotton. Chemical and bacteriological studies of 

 the soils are made in this connection. The object of one phase of the 

 work is to determine how far plants can use ammonia. Investigations 

 on '• double flower " and sterility in blackberries and dewberries were 

 pursued. Many varieties planted at the station are observed to deter- 

 mine the cause of sterility and how it may be overcome. 



Investigations on the toxicity of cotton-seed meal were essentially 

 experiments with pigs first fed whole meal and afterwards various 

 extracts carefully prepared. Superficial observations and examina- 

 tions of the blood and urine as well as post-mortem examinations were 

 made. Some of the extracts appeared more harmful than others. 



Under the Hatch Act the new fig anthracnose was studied, investi- 

 gation of cabbage diseases was undertaken, feeding experiments with 

 live stock and poultry were conducted, and studies of some insects 

 "were made. 



The poultryman compared meat meal, cotton-seed meal, and bone 

 meal with corn and bran in different combinations as feed for poultry, 

 and nuide breeding experiments with reference to Qgg production and 

 vitalit}'. 



In feeding experiments with pigs a corn ration was compared with 

 rations containing 7 parts of corn to 1 of cotton-seed meal, 4 of corn 

 to 1 of cotton-seed meal, and 1 of linseed meal to 4 of corn. Feeding 

 experiments with cotton-seed meal were also made with horses and 

 mules. The data thus far collected in this work are regarded as pre- 

 liminary. Apparently by using a large cotton-seed meal ration in 

 feeding dairy cows more butter was produced and a saving effected 

 of 20 cents per hundred pounds of feed, together with the production 

 of more manure. 



The entomologist made experiments in fumigation to find a sub- 

 stitute for carbon bisulphid in destroying the corn weevil. Studies 

 on the verification of the life history of the plum curculio were made 

 and the harlequin cabbage bug was also studied. 



The following publications were received by the Office during the 

 year: Bulletins liJ7, Some insect enemies of garden crops; 198, Han- 

 dling and marketing of milk and cream: and 109, Feeding experi- 

 ments with cows and calves; and the Annual Keport for 1908. 

 4G04.5°— 10 11 



