

CONTENTS. 



Department Bulletin No. 551/ — Variation in the Chemical Composition 

 of Soils: Page- 

 Introduction 1 



Description of soils analyzed 1 



Preparation of samples and methods of analysis 4 



Results of analyses 5 



Petrographic examination 8 



Discussion of data 9 



Relation of soil to subsoil 10 



Extreme variation 10 



Variation in the same province 12 



Variation in soils of the same type 13 



Limit of error in analytical work 14 



Summary 16 



Department Bulletin No. 552.— The Seasoning of Wood: 



Importance of proper seasoning methods 1 



Fiber saturation point and shrinkage , 2 



How wood may be injured in seasoning 11 



Checking 11 



Casehardening 11 



Honeycombing 11 



Warping 12 



Collapse 12 



Air seasoning 12 



Crossties, poles, and sawed timbers 12 



Lumber 17 



Rules for piling lumber 20 



Kiln-drying 22 



Types of kilns 22 



Preliminary treatments •. 25 



The progress of drying 26 



Department Bulletin No. 553. — The Chicken Mite: Its Life History and 

 Habits: 



Rearing methods used in life-history experiments 1 



Life history 2 



Life-cycle experiments 4 



Discussion of results of life-cycle experiments 7 



Longevity 8 



Feeding and hiding habits of mites 9 



Passing the winter 11 



Enemies 11 



Dispersion 11 



Other hosts 12 



Food other than blood 12 



Conditions favorable for propagation of mites 13 



Summary of life history 13 



Department Bulletin No. 554. — The Cranberry Girdler: 



Importance of the pest 1 



History 2 



Distribution 2 



Food plants 2 



Feeding habits and destructiveness 3 



Description of the cranberry girdler 5 



Seasonal history. ( 7 



Natural enemies 12 



Remedial measures 13 



Recommendations for control 19 



Literature cited 19 



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