116 REPOET OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



the effect of foods, especially oils, on butter. Feeding experiments 

 have been continued, in which nitrogenous crops, such as soy beans 

 and cowpeas, are used instead of concentrated feeding stuffs. The 

 field experiments include rotation experiments with different ferti- 

 lizers. There are also experiments with different crops and fertilizers 

 in cylinders and in pots. In the grass garden numerous varieties are 

 grown, and some varieties of timothy sent from the West Virginia 

 Station give promise of special usefulness. The agriculturist has 

 recently published a three- volume manual of instruction on agricul- 

 ture. The horticulturist is conducting numerous experiments with 

 different kinds of cover crops, varieties of orchard and small fruits, 

 vegetables, methods of culture, and fertilizers. The entomologist has 

 conducted investigations on the elm-tree beetle, the San Jose scale, and 

 other insects of the State. He has nearly completed an extensive cat- 

 alogue of the Coccidae of the world and is now considering the prob- 

 lem of fumigating large trees for eradicating San Jose scale. Sev- 

 eral advanced students are making special investigations under the 

 direction of the entomologist on such subjects as thrips, flies, and 

 bumblebees. Asparagus rust and a disease of asters are among the 

 important plant diseases receiving attention. 



The inspection duties of the station are large and have recently been 

 increased by the enactment of a law requiring dairy glassware to be 

 tested by the station. The fertilizer inspection brings a small revenue 

 to the station ; the others merely pay expenses. The agriculturist finds 

 increasing evidence that on Massachusetts soils the effect of fertilizers 

 varies .greatly with the crop under investigation. He is keeping a 

 very careful record of the experiments conducted under his supervi- 

 sion and has introduced an improved system of recording notes. Feed- 

 ing experiments with dairy cows show temporary effects from the use 

 of oils, but after a time the amount of fat in the milk returns to the 

 normal. The experiments in feeding nitrogenous crops instead of con- 

 centrated feeding stuffs indicate that it does not pay to grow such crops 

 in Massachusetts for the protein in their seeds or hay. The veterinary 

 building recently completed by the college is a substantial and con- 

 veniently arranged structure. The college library has one of the most 

 important collections of agricultural literature in this country, and is 

 outgrowing its present quarters. 



INCOME. 



The income of the station during the past fiscal year was as follows: 



United States appropriation $15, 000. 00 



State appropriation 11, 200. 00 



Fees 3,490.25 



Farm products 2,091.08 



Miscellaneous 2, 050. 50 



Total 33,831.83 



