fi 



tion plant at the Ogallah station has not been as successful as should 

 have been expected, but with lighter pumps and mill it might be 

 made a success. 



The black locust tree, north of the Smoky river, has been attacked 

 by borers for the past few years to such an extent that there was con- 

 siderable alarm as well as inquiry made about stopping its ravages. 

 Inquiry was at once instituted by myself as to the best method of 

 ridding the country of them. I received at least a half-dozen receipts, 

 but after applying same without results we had to come back to first 

 principles, and a very cheap and simple remedy ; that is, a thick coat 

 of whitewash. Mix in a double handful of salt to each bucket of 

 wash, and whitewash the trees from their very roots as high up as 

 you can reach. This covers the borers that are already in the tree 

 and excludes the air so that they perish, and no other will venture 

 near as long as the whitewash lasts. I am just in receipt of another 

 remedy which I have not tried, but it is said to be good. Mix or slack 

 your lime until it is as thick as soft butter, then put in enough coal- 

 oil to thin it to the consistency of good, thick whitewash. Add one 

 ounce of carbolic acid to -every two gallons of the wash, and apply 

 freely. 



With proper cultivation, and weeds kept down by the free use of 

 the plow and hoe, there is no reason why the growing of trees should 

 not be a success in western Kansas. 



In conclusion, I herewith submit a statement of expenses incurred 

 by this department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900 : 



Appropiation. Expended. Balance. 



$1,000 00 For salary of commissioner . $1,000 00 



480 00 For salary of foreman 480 00 



400 00 For purchase of trees, seeds, and cuttings. . 279 40 $120 60 



980 00 For labor, postage, freight, and incidentals, 972 25 7 75 



36000 For traveling expenses of commissioner 30266 5734 



600 00 For experiments in agriculture, horticul- 

 ture, etc 59987 13 



$3,820 00 Totals : $3,634 18 $185 82 



Inventory of state property at Dodge City station : 



1 two-horse wagon, 2 work horses, 1 set double harness, 1 hayrake, 1 steel 

 drag, 1 Acme harrow, 1 Deering mower, 1 disk cultivator, 1 fourteen-inch plow, 

 1 weed-cutter, 1 grindstone, 1 hand seed-drill, 2 hand cultivators, 1 block and 

 tackle, 1 pipe holder, 1 tree-digger, 1 go-devil, 6 hoes. 



Inventory of state property at Ogallah station : 



2 work horses, 1 set double harness, 1 two-horse wagon, 1 disk, 1 two-horse 

 cultivator, 2 one-horse cultivators, 1 riding plow, 1 walking plow, 1 harrow, 1 tree- 

 digger, 1 small seed-planter, 1 grindstone, 1 spade, 1 shovel, 4 hoes, 1 pruning- 

 knife, 1 pair pruning-shears, 2 scythes, 2 rakes, 1 writing-desk with typewriter, 



1 letter-press with stand, 1 office stove, 1 office table, 1 letter-file, 1 coil hose, 



2 coils large rope, 1 three-horse doubletree, 1 ladder, 1 mattock. 



Very respectfully, R. M. WRIGrHT, 



Commissioner. 



