246 SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH 



two acres into one-twentieth acre plots. The plots are 

 arranged in sections of ten plots each, and all corners are 

 marked with iron stakes. A little over one mile of perma- 

 nent farm roads have been established, wdiich not onlv aid in 

 the improvement of the farm but add greatly to the conven- 

 ience of conducting field tests. 



The old rectangular silo in the dairy barn was found to be 

 in a bad condition. New cement sills were put in, the cor- 

 ners cut off, making it slightly octagonal, new lining with 

 acid and w^ater-proof paper behind it w^as put on and a new 

 silage chute constructed, the total amount expended for 

 repairs being $98.73. The silo has been filled three times 

 since then and is in first class condition. A new blower 

 elevator ensilage cutter was purchased in the fall of 190-i 

 and has given excellent satisfaction, although . about one- 

 third more power is required to run it than the old chain 

 elevator type. A combined grass, grain and fertilizer drill 

 was purchased during the year, and the fact has been demon- 

 strated beyond doubt that more uniform stands of grass and 

 grain can be secured and the fertilizer applied more evenly 

 at a less cost for labor than by any broadcast method. A 

 sheep shearing machine which was also installed during the 

 year demonstrated that a slightly heavier fleece can be 

 obtained, a smoother and neater appearance made with less 

 danger of cutting the animal than by hand shearing. 



II. Grains and Grasses. 



Oats. — Thirteen varieties of oats mentioned in the last 

 annual report were sown in the spring of 1904. All the 

 varieties started out nicely and had every appearance of 

 making a good yield until the time of filling when the rust 

 struck them badly. Although some varieties seemed more 

 resistant than others, no grain was produced by any of them. 



Corn. — Fourteen varieties of corn (seven dent and seven 

 flint) were tested on tenth-acre plots. The average yield 

 per acre of the dents was 56.0 bushels and of the flints 44.4 

 bushels. Duplicate tests of thick and thin planting of corn 



