DEPARTMENT OF BACTERIOLOGY. 193 



pounds of butter for the year. The data have been taken 

 from the daily and weekly records of the barn and creamery, 

 and the bntter calculated by the standard formula, butter= 

 l+i fat instead of the actual weights obtained, since the lat- 

 ter would involve corrections for cream and milk sold. 



The work of this department during the past year was con- 

 nected with that of the department of horticulture, and the 

 record of the work is given in the report of the horticulturist. 



Charles W. Burkett, 



Agriculturist. 



DEPARTMENT OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



The work of this department during the past year has been 

 chiefly a continuation of various lines of investigation pre- 

 viously begun, viz., dairy bacteriology; the study of the root 

 tubercles of the leguminous plants, both wild and cultivated; 

 study of the life history and treatment of black knot of plum 

 and cherry, and the fungous diseases of the apple. Experi- 

 ments in the measurement of temperatures by electrical 

 means, and in the bacteriology of ensilage have been begun. 



Edible Mushrooms. 



For some time in different quarters there have been signs 

 of an awakening interest in the study of mushrooms, espe- 

 cially with a view to their use as food. The writer has for 

 several years been interested in their study from a botanical 

 point of view, and it seems to him worth while to call the 

 attention of those whom this report is likely to reach to some 

 of the facts in regard to them. 



Mushrooms are not only palatable but many are to be con- 

 sidered as delicacies. Mushrooms are nutritious, being com- 

 parable in this respect to the meats. Mushrooms at certain 

 seasons are very abundant. In spite of these facts compara- 

 tively few people in this country make use of the wild species 

 for food. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that it is 

 known that some varieties are exceedingly poisonous. There- 

 fore, those who do not know anything about the different 



