REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT.

Arthur Goss, Director.

Sir-During the year ending June 30, 1905, the work of the Botanical Department has been almost wholly devoted to the study of parasitic fungi, and the diseases caused by them. However, during this period a reminder of former work done in the domain of vegetable physiology was received in form of two diplomas from the Universal Exposition of 1904 at St. Louis. One of these confers a bronze medal for a "centrifuge to illustrate the effect of gravity on growing plants, specially designed by J. C. Arthur," and the other confers a gold medal for "recording apparatus for physiological study of plants, devised by J. C. Arthur." This apparatus exhibited at St. Louis was the outgrowth of work in the department, and it is hoped that time and opportunity may be found in the near future to resume this line of investigation, which is now in its infancy as an agricultural subject, but promises great and fundamental service when suitably developed.

Plant Rusts. The utmost effort has been concentrated upon the study of the rusts of all classes of plants. The object has been to obtain as wide a range of knowledge as possible of this class of parasitic fungi, especially of those species having agricultural importance. It is hoped by this means to secure new points of view for attacking the difficult problem of the grain rusts in particular, and for illuminating the obscure behavior of other rusts of field and garden crops, a hope not altogether unrealized, although the work is not yet approaching completion. Cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture much increased the amount of work accomplished, as it made possible practically the entire time of an assistant from July 1, 1904, until April 30, 1905. Since May 1, when this portion of the cooperative agreement with the Department was dissolved, the assistant has been a regular member of the Station Staff. During July, August and September, Mr. J. C. Marquis most acceptably occupied the position, and resigned to accept an editorial position in connection with the agricultural publications of the Orange Judd Co. Since his resignation the position has been held by Mr. Frank D. Kern, whose ability in this line of research is of an unusually high order.

The work has resulted in two important articles of a fundamental nature. One of these was published in the Botanical Gazette for March, 1905, under the title "Terminology of the spore-structure in the Uredinales," and proposed new terms for the several

forms of spores, thus releasing such generic names as Uredo and Aecidium, heretofore applied to certain spore-forms, as well as unifying and simplifying all the terms employed. According to the suggestion of this paper, the several stages of every rust having complete development, like stem rust of wheat, for instance, would show in the order of their appearance, pycinia, aecia, uredinia and telia, the aecia being cluster cups, the uredinia being red rust and the telia black rust. The second of these articles was presented at the International Botanical Congress held at Vienna in June, 1905, and embodied a new classification of the whole group of rusts, founded upon their life history and structure, designed to bring out in a clearer and more. recognizable form the most salient relationships of all the forms. The paper will appear in the proceedings of the Congress, which have not yet been printed.

Among the many cultures of grass and sedge rusts carried out last spring, those confirming the work on corn rust of the preceding year, and mentioned in the last Annual Report of this Station, are of special moment. The resting spores of the rust taken from the dead leaves of the previous season were sown in April on young plants of the wild yellowed-flowered wood sorrel and readily produced the cluster cup stage; this was in turn sown on corn and produced the red rust. At the same time the resting spores from the corn were sown directly on young corn plants raised in the greenhouse, and although the trials were repeated, yet no infection resulted. It is therefore firmly established that the full life cycle of corn rust requires sorrel for its completion. From some observations made by the Department, together with information gleaned elsewhere, it is inferred nevertheless, that much of the corn rust, even in northern regions, starts in the early part of the season from the red rust spores which have been so fortunate as to survive the winter, and grown directly upon the young corn plants, and that most of the resting spores come to nought, but this is a point yet to be investigated by the Department. It was also found this season that the rust passed readily from field corn to sweet corn, or the reverse, showing in all probability that there is only one species of corn. rust capable of passing readily from one kind of corn to another. Other cultures of grass rusts might be mentioned, such as finding the cluster cup stage of the cord grass (Spartina), the study of the behavior of resting conditions of red rust, and adaptation characteristic of hot prairie regions, etc., but would require more space than is here available.

Oat Smut and Its Treatment.-The method of treatment of

seed oats with solution of formalin to free them from smut, doing the work on a large scale at a grain elevator, has been reported in full in Bulletin No. 103, issued in March, 1905. The work is believed to mark a distinct advance in this line of remedial treatment and has received much favorable comment.

Distribution of Fungous Diseases in Indiana.-In the fall of 1904 a circular letter was sent out by the Department to about 90 farmers, orchardists and gardeners of the state, asking information about the prevalence of the most prominent diseases of crops during the year. Some 22 answers were received and a gratifying amount of information obtained, which is being used for a basis for work. It is also contemplated to issue a bulletin of standard information upon the diseases and their remedies which are shown to be most general and injurious.

The Wild Mushroom Crop.-Interest remains unabated in the cultivation of mushrooms, and in the utilization of the edible wild forms. Aside from continuing observations in the field and answering inquiries, no material advance has been made this year by the Department. There still exists the same indispensable need for a suitable mushroom pit or house, in which to carry on experiments, and additional assistance to look after the work.

Letters. An important part of the work of the Department is devoted to the answering of inquiries about weeds and stray plants, the adulteration of seeds, especially of alfalfa, all kinds of inquiries as to crops and trees, and the identification of grasses. The freedom with which these inquiries are sent is a good index of the existing degree of mutual interest between the people of the state and Department in the special lines of knowledge which it is designed to foster. Respectfully submitted,

J. C. ARTHUR,

Botanist.

REPORT OF THE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
DEPARTMENT.

Arthur Goss, Director.

Sir: Below will be found a brief summary of the work of the Animal Husbandry Department during the year ending June 30, 1905.

Soy Beans for Swine.-A manuscript on the use of "Soy Beans, Middlings and Tankage as Supplemental Feeds in Pork

Production" has been completed. This is a report on work done last year and gives the results of a pig feeding experiment, conducted to determine the value of soy beans as a supplement to corn, and compare them with middlings and tankage. The favorable results from the soy beans should make this piece of work of much interest to Indiana farmers and swine growers throughout the state.

Bacon Hogs.-The investigation of this subject has continued during the year. Careful study of the influence of Yorkshire blood on the prolificacy of recognized breeds of lard hogs has been made. A feeding experiment, in which Poland China, Yorkshires, Berkshires and crosses of the same were compared, has been completed. The work on bacon hogs will be continued until sufficient information for publication is obtained.

Milk Production.-Although no special work has been done in this connection, accurate records have been kept of individual cows in the dairy herd, showing milk and butter fat produced and feed consumed.

Beef Production.-Little has been done in this line as the funds appropriated for this work in March, 1905, are not available until November 1, 1905. Plans have been made however, to provide equipment for this work when the funds become available and an assistant has been secured to conduct the work.

A change in the organization of the Experiment Station, July 1, 1904, placed the farm except such areas as may be set aside for permanent experimental purposes, with all equipment of buildings, tools, fences, live stock, etc., together with the proceeds of the same, under University management and maintenance. This change does not relieve the head of this Department of the work and responsibility of managing the farm, but rather adds to his duties, as the change necessitates the keeping of account of all labor, supplies and materials furnished the Experiment Station by the University.

Respectfully submitted,

J. H. SKINNER,

Chief of Animal Husbandry Department.

REPORT OF THE DAIRY DEPARTMENT.

Arthur Goss, Director.

Sir:-During the year the following experiments, among others of less moment, have been carried forward but not fully completed:

One to determine the relative over-run from salted and unsalted or "sweet butter," which was started in a large creamery in northern Indiana.

Another, the making of a marketable cheese from buttermilk from pasteurized cream is being worked out in the Department creamery.

An educational butter scoring, conducted by this Department was begun. Butter is sent to a cold storage house* in Indianapolis from Indiana creameries, to be scored by a commercial judge, and criticisms and suggestions for improvement made by a representative of this Department, and returned to the maker.

A start in cooperative herd testing was made with patrons of our creamery early in the year, and this has been extended to a limited number of outside herds with the purpose of increasing as it may appear that the plan of work meets the needs and existing conditions.

The testing of samples and scoring of butter sent in for criticism, and suggestions made for improvement, have continued.

Mr. H. N. Slater, for some time Buttermaker in the Dairy Department of the University, has been appointed Dairy Field Assistant, to work among the creamerymen and patrons as provided for by the late legislative appropriation. He begins his work at the close of the present fiscal year.

A materially increasing number of inquiries for definite information relating to dairy matters has been answered by letter, and a number of popular articles written for the agricultural press. Bulletin No. 104 on "A Simple Alkali Test for Ripeness of Cream," has been published. Respectfully submitted,

H. E. VANNOrman, Chief of Dairy Department.

REPORT OF THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT.

Arthur Goss, Director.

Sir: A manuscript upon "Examination of Horses for Soundness" has been completed for publication. This work, like the bulletin upon the "Diseases of Sheep," and that upon "The Diseases of Swine," is a result of the joint work with the Office of State Veterinarian. Dr. G. H. Roberts, Assistant State Veterinarian, has contributed a large part of the work.

*Indianapolis Cold Storage Co.