AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 83 



DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE AND 

 HORTICULTURE 



The work of the year has been largely that of organization. 

 The head of the department lectured at twenty-five different 

 places during the past year, chiefly before grange organizations. 

 The assistant in horticulture lectured at ten places, and the 

 assistant in agriculture at two places. 



Two bulletins have been published from this department, 

 " Surface and Sub-Irrigation Out of Doors," No. 34, and 

 " Crimson Clover," No. 37. 



Two general exhibits of the college crops in both agriculture 

 and horticulture were made at fairs, the State Grange fair at 

 Tilton, N. H., September 7 to 10; Rochester fair, September 

 21 to 26 ; also sent one plate each of fifty-six varieties of 

 tomatoes to the State Horticultural Society at Concord Septem- 

 ber 22 to 24. 



I. Agriculture 



Early in the year the new barn was made ready for use. All 

 of the animals were subjected to the tuberculin test before they 

 were transferred. The two new silos which had been previously 

 filled were opened and furnished abundant green food until late 

 in the spring. The whole herd consisted of twenty-six animals. 



Feeding experiments were carried on under the direction of 

 the chemical department. 



A number of valuable animals have been added to the herd 

 from time to time throughout the year. We now have represen- 

 tative Ayrshires, Guernseys, and Jerseys, also Durhams and 

 grade Holsteins. 



The following experiments have been planned and carried out 

 during the present season : . 



1 . Kainit as an absorbent and for increasing the value of 

 manure, compared with gypsum and sawdust. The manure 

 with each absorbent was kept separate. In the spring a plot of 

 each was planted under the same conditions with various plants, 

 to ascertain their respective values. The experiment has not 

 been concluded. 



