fication, more in fact, than the library and herbarium resources of the Station enable us to fully answer.

4. Weeds. Inquiries regarding the identity of weeds are very numerous. Much time is required to properly answer these, and the similar letters that come pertaining to diseased and injured plants, and kindred matters. Among the new weeds, that may prove to be more than usually serious, is the clover dodder, which was reported from Miami county as very destructive to large field of It appears to have been introduced with the seed.

alfalfa.

5. Greenhouse and Vegetation House Experiments.—The numerous experiments on the cultivation of various garden and field crops, as well as winter crops under glass, which have been carried on for many years, have been wholly abandoned for want of funds to keep the greenhouse in repair and to provide the requisite labor in handling and watering the plants.

Respectfully submitted,

J. C. ARTHUR, Botanist.

Report of the Chemical Department.

The following is a brief summary of the work of the Chemical Department for the past year:

1. Soil Tests. In the spring a series of field fertilizer tests were started on typical soils in different parts of the state. Different kinds and amounts of fertilizing materials were applied to carefully measured plats of the soil to be tested. The results are to be noted for several years. Some of the objects of the work are:

(a) To determine the needs of different soils of the state for the plant food elements, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and lime. (b) To study the effects of several different manurial substances other than commercial fertilizers, such as barnyard manure, straw and ashes.

(c) To determine the lasting effects of different fertilizers by keeping the plats staked out for a number of years and noting the results of a single application.

(d) To study the comparative effects of heavy applications of finely ground, non-acidulated rock phosphate, with the same money value of acid phosphate.

In connection with the above tests samples of the soils experimented upon are analyzed for the purpose of ascertaining the relation between the composition of the soils and their plant producing powers.

These experiments have been started on the farms of the following named persons:

Muck Soil-L. C. Nice, Tippecanoe County, The American Farm Co., Newton County, and Sid Conger, Madison County. Black Loam Soil.-Miss M. E. Hamlin, Benton county.

Clay Soil-David Pfendler, Marion county, E. E. Jones, Spencer county, A. A. Cravens, Washington county, and A. G. Mace, Scott county.

A series of tests with fertilizers and legume crops on some badly worn land on the farm of O. W. Caswell in Warrick county, were also started last spring. These tests are for the purpose of determining if it is possible at a reasonable expense and within a reasonable time to bring up a piece of badly worn land of very low fertility to a point where profitable crops can be produced. This test will necessary occupy several years.

A number of requests have been received by the Station for this kind of work with which it has been impossible to comply, owing to lack of funds. It is hoped as soon as the necessary funds are secured to extend this work to other sections of the state.

2. A study of the corn plant with a view to determining the following points:

(a) The effect of the use of different fertilizing ingredients on the development, yield and composition.

(b) A study of the effect of fertilization under proper moisture conditions as compared with ordinary practice.

(c) The chemical composition of the corn plant grown under proper moisture conditions and under ordinary practice.

(d) The assimilation of plant food under proper moisture conditions and ordinary practice.

(e) The effect of fertilization on the composition under proper moisture conditions as compared with ordinary practice.

3. A continuation of the experiment in cooperation with the Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, upon "The influence of soil and climate on the composition of the sugar beet."

4. A study concerning the influence of fertilization on the development, yield and composition of the sugar beet.

5. An investigation concerning the influence of the composition of the water in and under muck soils, on the growth of crops.

6. The investigation in regard to the solubility of phosphatic fertilizers from different sources in various reagents under different conditions of time, temperature, quantity, volume, acidity and alkalinity of digesting solutions, was continued.

7. The investigation in cooperation with the Agricultural department in corn breeding, was continued.

8. An investigation was made in cooperation with the Dairy department concerning the moisture content of butter under different conditions of manufacture.

9. Analyses of various samples of cattle foods were made during the year for the Animal Husbandry department.

10.

Examination of the stomachs of cattle which had died under suspicious circumstances were made for the Veterinary department. II. Considerable time was devoted to soil investigations in cooperation with the Referee on Soils for the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists.

12. A number of miscellaneous analyses of samples of clay, wood ashes, wheat, tobacco stems and other materials were made during the year. ARTHUR GOSs, Chemist.

Report of the Veterinary Department.

ARTHUR GOss, Director.

Sir: The Veterinary Department completed a manuscript upon "Diseases of Swine," in October, 1903. This work is a brief monograph upon the more common diseases of swine. It incorporated the results of a large amount of work done along that line since 1903. Dr. R. A. Craig, Assistant State Veterinarian, has contributed a large part, as part of the work of the Office of State Veterinarian. The manuscript has been freed of technicalities as far as possible, and the aim has been to make the results valuable to swine breeders.

I believe this to be the most important matter the Department has submitted for publication. Its being withheld because of insufficiency of funds is unfortunate at this time, when there is so much disease and loss to combat.

The Department has other lines of work under way, the results of which may be made available within the year.

No change has been made in the physical equipment.
Respectfully submitted,

A. W. BITTING, Veterinarian.

Report of the Animal Husbandry Department.

ARTHUR GOss, Director.

Sir: The following report for the year ending June 30, 1904, is respectfully submitted:

During the year, feeding experiments have been conducted to determine something of the value of soy beans as a source of protein for growing and fattening swine. The average Indiana farm has

abundance of corn to feed. This grain, while an excellent feed for swine, is deficient in protein and mineral matter, a fact which makes it necessary for the farmer who would handle his hogs most successfully, to grow or purchase some feed to supplement the corn. The main source of such feed supply has been the bi-products of the flouring mill, such as shorts, middlings and bran. These feeds have become high priced and hard to get in many local markets in Indiana. Consequently, the importance of finding some new source from which the pig feeder can secure a supplement to the corn ration. Already valuable data has been secured in regard to feeding the grain of the soy bean. With the soy bean, the Department has compared corn, tankage and shorts. Different methods of feeding the beans have been studied.

Bacon Hogs. This subject has been under investigation during the year. Methods of breeding and crossing bacon and lard hogs, as well as the amount, cost and quality of pork produced, have been carefully studied, with the view of securing desirable information, which in the light of present inquiries from pork producers is much needed.

This branch of the work, the swine, makes good returns for the money invested, besides furnishing a good field for investigation along practical lines, which are of vital importance to American, and especially Indiana farmers.

The Farm.-On July 10, the main cattle barn was struck by lightning, and with its contents destroyed. This included hay and a small quantity of grain and mill feed, mills, electric motor and various tools and equipment ordinarily found in such a barn. Since then a new feeding barn has been erected at a cost of $2,000. This building is a plank frame structure, sided with drop siding, shingle roof, concrete floors and stave silo. It was planned primarily for a beef cattle feeding barn with sheds and open yard in connection, but at present accommodates the dairy and breeding herd of beef cattle.

The buildings on the farm have been repaired and are now in good condition, except the sheep barn. The horse barn has been painted and the fences and drives renewed and repaired, so that I can say that the farm buildings, fences and drives are in good repair; far better than a year ago.

The grain and forage crops grown during the year, have been largely consumed by the live stock. Excellent returns have been obtained from all land under cultivation, and the dairy herd has made a satisfactory return for the food consumed. The loss of about 45 tons of hay, which under local conditions, ran the farm feed bill excessively high. Respectfully submitted, J. H. SKINNER, Head of Animal Husbandry Department.

Report of the Dairy Department.

ARTHUR GOSS, Director.

Sir:-During the current year considerable attention has been given to the subject of the moisture content of butter and methods of controlling it on a commercial scale, but our work has not as yet resulted in any conclusive results. The question of methods of handling hand separator cream is still under investigation. We are receiving a regular supply of this class of cream, which is slowly increasing, making it possible to carry on this work to better advantage.

Lack of facilities has prevented much progress in the work of pasteurization, though records are being kept of much of the routine work, giving useful data for reference.

A modification of the methods usually employed for the determination of the acidity of cream has been worked out and used in the regular work of the department for the past year, giving such satisfaction that a report of the same has been prepared for publication.

A considerable number of samples of milk and skim milk have been tested from time to time, and a number of samples of butter have been scored for different creameries in the state, suggestions and criticisms together with the score having been returned to the makers.

I recommend the securing of funds which will enable the Department to carry on in a systematic way investigation work among the creameries and dairy farms of the state, to the end that losses now incurred may be lessened, better methods employed and an improved quality of dairy products placed on the market, and further the work already in progress in the laboratories.

Respectfully submitted,

H. E. VANNORMAN, Head of Dairy Department.