ANNUAL REPORT, 1945-46 33 



increase in the number of birds as compared with the check pen. The litter was 

 not changed during the season. At the end of the season the litter in the check 

 pen housing 100 birds had a moisture content of 28 percent. In the test pen 

 housing 150 birds, the moisture content of the litter was 36 percent. Egg pro- 

 duction was equal in the two pens, but mortality was slightly higher in the crowd- 

 ed pen. 



Electric ventilation was compared to natural ventilation through windows uti- 

 lizing the down-draft baffle device. The electric fan was installed in a pen at the 

 east end of an uninsulated house, while the check pen was the center pen in a 

 three-pen insulated house. The electric fan was so installed as to circulate 300 

 cubic feet per minute, discharging through a long duct placed near the floor at the 

 front of the house. The fan sucked in 90 cubic feet of fresh air per minute from 

 the outside. The windows remained closed during the season. Foul air was dis- 

 charged through an opening in the floor at the east end of the pen. The fan ran 

 continuously and drew 40 watts. 



The litter was not kept as dry as in former years, presumably because the pen 

 was more crowded. The pen housed 100 birds, the same as the check pen. At 

 the end of the season the litter contained 51 percent of moisture. Relative 

 humidity in the pen was higher than in the check pen, but very little frost ac- 

 cumulated on the ceiling and temperature was kept higher than would have been 

 possible with window ventilation. Egg production was slightly higher than in 

 the check pen and mortality no higher. 



Hay Drying. (C. I. Gunness and J. G. Archibald.) Mow drying of loose hay 

 was continued in one of the college barns. This installation was used to take 

 care of lots of hay which were too wet to put in the barn and which would very 

 likely have been injured by rain if left out another day. The installation seemed 

 very much worth while from this standpoint. 



Three installations in the State have been available for study and observation. 

 One, made in 1945 for drying baled hay, has a capacity of 50 tons and was filled 

 three times in 1945 for three cuttings of alfalfa. Some of the bales contained 

 up to 43 percent of moisture and in general came out very well to the satisfaction 

 of the owner. One lot was put in in June of this year. Because of the excellent 

 weather for haying, the bales were not put in as wet as last year, but wet enough 

 so the hay has come out in good condition with excellent color. 



Two other installations have been made in which air has been heated by being 

 passed over steam radiators. The advantage of heating the air has been quite 

 apparent, but a full report on this season's operations can not be made at this 

 time. 



DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY 

 Charles P. Alexander in Charge 



The early season of 1945 was characterized by very unusual weather condi- 

 tions. During March there occurred a period of extremely hot weather which 

 stimulated both plant and insect growth. European corn borer development 

 was hastened so that pupation of overwintered larvae began much earlier than 

 usual, and fruit bud development by the end of the month was approximately a 

 month ahead of normal. In April, conditions reverted to ranges more normal for 

 March, culminating in the freeze of April 23 which caused very general and 

 severe damage to fruit buds and destroyed the crop in many orchards. May 

 was cold and wet, conditions which were very unfavorable for activity of Euro- 

 pean corn borer moths and held the first brood of borers to such a low point that 

 early corn suffered very slight damage whether treated or not. 



