VIRGINIA. 195 



the common orchard fruits has been made, preliminary to an investi- 

 gation rehiting to the eti'ect of soil environment on fruit bud forma- 

 tion. The fermentation studies, showing the possibility of control- 

 ling cider fermentation by means of selected yeasts, have been in 

 part reported upon, and the final results will appear in the report 

 for 1900. The study of problems in the biology of canning, pertain- 

 ing mainly to apples, potatoes, beans, and corn, has been begun. The 

 study of the cause of self-sterility in fruits was continued, principally 

 with pears. This work has been transferred from the field to the 

 greenhouse, and the accumulated data are being summarized for 

 publication. 



The study of the fixation of phosphoric acid in the soil, by the 

 department of chemistry, has now been carried on for four years 

 in the laboratory, the greenhouse, and the field, and a progress report 

 will soon be published. 



The project on the eifect of different methods of treatment and of 

 grazing on pasture grasses is being studied on 20 acres of plats at 

 the station and at a number of different places in the State. In 

 connection with this work an effort is made to determine means for 

 the eradication of " broom sedge " from pastures. 



In the study of soil bacteria good progress was made. At the 

 station, inoculated soy beans yielded an increase of 1 ton of hay and 

 10 bushels of seed per acre, as compared Avith a similar plat of unin- 

 oculated soy beans. Other results gave a reasonable basis for the 

 estimation that the inoculation of soils from legume nodules will 

 increase the nitrogen content of the soil without the presence of the 

 host plant. By means of pot experiments it was found that the 

 presence of denitrifying organisms in the soil decreased plant growth, 

 and that denitrification Avas more common in open loam than in clay 

 soils. The application of fresh manure increased the denitrifying 

 activitv to a greater extent than did the use of new straw. 



The department of animal husbandry made a systematic study of 

 the curative effect of jjood feedinc: and care in the eradication of 

 tuberculosis from dairy and breeding herds. Careful records were 

 kept of all the animals and they were examined and tested by the 

 veterinarian from time to time. Some of the animals will be 

 slaughtered soon and post-mortem examinations will be made. 



Work carried on with other funds included a study of the lime 

 resources of the State and of the comparative value of ground lime- 

 stone and burned lime l)y the department of chemistry. Studies of 

 inheritance in garden vegetal)les with jiarticular reference to Menders 

 law, varietal studies of orchard fruits, fertilizer experiments with 

 apples, and a culture test of basket willows in cooperation with the 

 forest service were conducted by the department of horticidture, and 

 continued efi'orts to imi)rove the crops most commonly grown in 



