16 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



General Projects. 



Microbiological Investigations in Milk. 



Microbiological Investigations in Soils. 



Experiments to determine Both the Mode of Inheritance of Various 

 Characters of Poultry and a Study of Other Factors governing Form 

 and Fimction, those at present being studied being Egg Production, 

 Hatchability of Eggs, Plumage Color, Comb Form, Booting, Certain 

 Growth Characteristics and Secondary Sexual Characters. 



Effect of Liming Soil on Assimilation of Nitrogen by Crops. 



The Local Balance of Trade in Farm Products. 



Study of Agricultural Insurance in Massachusetts. 



Methods and Costs of Distribution of Tobacco, Onions and Potatoes. 



One new line of investigation has been begun during the past 

 year which deserves special mention, namely, the testing of 

 dairy machinery and apparatus with a view to determining its 

 merits as judged by the strictest scientific tests at the expense 

 of the manufacturers. This type of work has not yet been 

 adopted as a general policy but is under trial with the De Laval 

 Separator Company. This company meets all expenditures 

 connected with this work. The details are looked after by 

 graduate students who are classified as industrial graduate 

 assistants. Three such assistants are now giving one-half their 

 time to this investigation which, so far as can now be judged, 

 promises to prove eminently satisfactory, not only to the De 

 Laval Company but to the college and station as well, since 

 the company freely grants to the station the privilege of perfect 

 liberty in investigation and absolutely unbiased scientific dis- 

 cussion and publication. 



THE ASPARAGUS SUBSTATION, CONCORD. 



The work in the asparagus substation during the past year 

 has been conducted along the same lines as heretofore. The 

 breeding work has been in local charge of Prof. J. B. Norton, 

 who has looked after it ever since it was begun in 1906. Mr. 

 Norton's work has been characterized by great enthusiasm, in- 

 defatigable industry and a high degree of originality and skill. 

 It is our belief that he has produced a number of strains of 

 asparagus possessing at the same time excellent commercial 



