98 



torial illustrations, showing the appearance of ears in Avhich artificial 

 fertilization and crossing- were effected with more or less success by 

 covering the ears with bags of cloth or paper (preferably cloth) to 

 ])revent the access of pollen to the silk in the ordinary way. 



The pollen from selected stalks was dusted upon the silks after these had 

 reached the stage to receive it; the hags were then readjusted and left luitil 

 all danger of other ])ollen entering had passed. 



It is hoped that this line of investigation will lead to results of 

 decided value. 



Wasiiin(j axi) saltixg iu'ttek, by ^y. M. Hays. B. S. A., axd D. X, 

 Harper, Ph. I), (pp. 34—1:2). — ''This is a study of washing and 

 salting butter, to compare the several methods of getting the milk or 

 curd out and the salt in, and at the same time lose nothing of the 

 flavors." In the experiments, which are described in detail, salt did 

 not diffuse through or " strike into " the butter. When, however, the 

 butter was in granular form, the salt was carried by water in continu- 

 ous channels or interstices among the granules. Two lots of butter, 

 one with small and the other with large granules, vrere placed in brine 

 and genth^ stirred to bring the brine in contact with the granules. 

 Portions of each lot were removed in one, five, and thirty minutes 

 and immediately worked as nearly free of water as possible. Analy- 

 sis showed that more salt was left in the butter when it remained in 

 the brine some time, and about one-half more in the small-grained 

 butter than in the large-grained. Other trials showed that by wash- 

 ing ''granular" butter with the saturated brine a full amount of 

 dissolved salt can be incorporated Avith the butter. It was also shown 

 in the same way that ( 1 ) washing butter either with clear well-water 

 or with brine did not remove nearly all the curd of the buttermilk; 

 (2) water in the butter with very small granules contained relatively 

 less cheesy matter; (o) the ash of butter was very much reduced by 

 washing when in the granular form ; (4) the curd nuist be carried out 

 mechanically by the water. This process is materially assisted by 

 considerable stirring. The relation between the solubility of salt in 

 water and amounts of water and of salt in butter is discussed. The 

 water normally contained in butter will hold in solution as much salt 

 as is needed. In general, the smaller the separate particles of the 

 l^iutter when washed, the ' more early and completely is the curd 

 washed out. Further results are to be reported. 



Greenhouse walls — relative protective values of different 

 METHODS or coKSTRUCTit)N, S. B. Greex, B. S. (pp. -tS-oO) (illus- 

 trated). — The wall of the greenhouse was divided -into seven sections, 

 forming as many kinds of wall, which are described and illustrated 

 by a diagram. A tri-daiW record was taken from thermometers 

 hung inside of boxes attached to the inside of the different sections. 

 The following conclusions were drawn: 



(1) The brick wall with more than one air sj^ace was nuu-h warmer 



