1906.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 7 



Wheat bran has been compared with corn silage, in con- 

 nection in botli cases with some of the more nitrogenous 

 concentrates, as food for milch cows. The results indi- 

 cate that silage is equally as satisfactory as the bran, and 

 that by substitution of silage for the bran the necessary 

 outlay for purchased foods in milk production can be greatly 

 reduced. 



This division has carried out an interesting investigation 

 into the conditions prevailing in milk production in Amherst 

 and neighboring towns. It is found that the conditions are 

 often quite unsanitary ; that bacteria are frequently exceed- 

 ingly numerous in the milk, indicating improper methods of 

 handling ; and that in general there is urgent need of im- 

 provement. In the judgment of Dr. Lindsey, the results of 

 this investigation indicate the desirability of the establish- 

 ment of some regular system of inspecting dairies. It is 

 believed that this is something which consumers in increas- 

 ing numbers will be likely to insist upon in the near future. 



In the horticultural division the only investigation suffi- 

 ciently advanced to justify report is that undertaken, and 

 in part reported upon in our last annual report, on methods 

 of pruning peach trees injured by winter-killing. It will be 

 rememljered that four systems were under trial : no pruning, 

 light pruning, moderate pruning, and severe pruning. 

 Severe pruning consisted in removing nearly all the branches 

 of the injured tree. The observations of another year lead 

 to the conclusion that this system cannot be recommended. 

 A more moderate pruning, consisting of the removal of from 

 one-third to one-half of the growth of the previous year, 

 seems to have given results which are on the whole most 

 satisfactory ; and such pruning is recommended in all cases 

 w^hen the wood has been injured by winter-killing. If only 

 the fruit buds have been destroyed by the winter, it is 

 recommended to prune back the previous season's growth 

 severely, leaving only two or three buds. 



In the entomological division, experiments are in prog- 

 ress with a view to determinino^ the definite strength of 

 hydrocyanic acid gas which can be used with safety on 

 plants in greenhouses under varying conditions of growth. 



