WEST VIRGINIA, 201 



WEST VIRGINIA. 



West Virg-inia Agricultural Experiment Station, Morgantown. 



Department of West Virginia University. 



J. II. Stewart, M. A., Director. 



The general cliaracter of the work and the equipment of the "West 

 Virginia Station were not materially changed during the past j'ear. 

 The staff was increased by the appointment of Arthur L. Dacy as 

 assistant horticulturist and Nahum J. Giddings as bacteriologist. 

 The station funds were increased by state appropriations of $4,000 

 for truck and horticultural investigations and $G,000 for orchard 

 and nursery inspection and the control of orchard pests. 



Of the nine Adams fund projects undertaken by this station, that 

 relating to variations in the apple and peach was not vigorously 

 prosecuted during the year on account of the continued ill health of 

 the horticulturist. Some orchard planting and other preliminary 

 work was, however, done. Improved laboratory equipment for the 

 study of apple leaf diseases and cucumber mildew was provided and 

 preliminary work on these projects was undertaken. Important addi- 

 tions were also made to the apparatus required in the investigations 

 on the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, including a motor generator 

 and high-tension transformers. The results of the past year's work 

 on this project are considered fundamental in character and have 

 inspired confidence of ultimate success. 



An important outcome of the investigations during the year on the 

 production of sanitary milk has been the perfecting of means of 

 sterilizing milk and cooling and bottling devices, so that a milk of 

 very low germ content and high keeping quality can be obtained. 

 The investigations on the effect of pressure on the preservation of 

 fruits, vegetables, and milk are approaching completion, and a re- 

 port upon the subject is being prepared. A report of progress in 

 the investigations on excess of m(jrtality among brooder chicks is 

 also being prepared. This will deal more particularly with the 

 influence of methods of feeding and character of rations on the 

 vitality of chicks. The studies on nut insects were practically com- 

 pleted during the year and are ready for publication. Studies on 

 the woolly aphis of the apple are to be continued with a view to work- 

 ing out the complete life cycle of this insect. Important data were 

 collected during the year on the distribution and feeding habits of the 

 short-tail shrew. The studies were also extended to other members 

 of this family. 



The principal lines of work aside from the Adams fund projects 

 named above were a study of the soil conditions of the State with 

 special reference to the extent and degree of acidity; tests of the 



