I u Cornell University Library The original of tiiis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924000289557 REPORT CF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE ON THE NEEDS OF THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DECEMBER, 1910 THE GENERAL AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE The Interests which it Represents This committee may be said to represent the following organi- zations : The Illinois Live Stock Breeders' Association, The Illinois Grain Dealers' Association, The Illinois Corn Growers' Association, The Illinois State Farmers' Institute, The Illinois Horticultural Society, The Illinois Dairymen's Association, The Illinois State Florists' Association, besides miscellaneous unorganized agricultural interests. How THE Committee Came into Existence Appropriations made by the State of Illinois for the conducting of experimental work in agriculture at the Experiment Station, in connection with the College of Agriculture at Urbana, have carried with them the provision that such funds should be expended under the supervision of an Advisory Committee of five members in each case, which committees are appointed respectively by the various state organizations interested in the lines of work in which experiments are to be made. Following out this provision The Illinois Grain Dealers' Association and the Illinois Corn Growers' Association, jointly, appoint the Advisory Com- mittee on Crops, The Illinois Live Stock Breeders' Association, the Committee on Animal Husbandry, The Illinois State Farmers' Institute, the Committee on Soils, The Illinois Horticultural Society, the Committee on Or- chards, The Illinois Dairymen's Association, the Committee on Dairy- ing, The Illinois State Florists' Association, the Committee on Floriculture. Thus have come into existence six committees of five members each, having a general supervision over the experimental work in ag- riculture. These committees meet separately as the interests of their individual departments require, and general meetings of all are held at least once a year. It is fair to assume that each committee is com- posed of representative men of the state in the particular branch of agriculture covered. It is also fair to assume that these thirty men, acting jointly, represent in the broadest possible way the agricultural interests of the state. At a general called meeting of these committees held at Urbana on August i6, 1910, the condition of the Agricultural College was taken under consideration. Such short investigation as could be made at the time convinced those present that a thorough investigation was needed, and by unanimous vote a committee was constituted to ar- range for a general investigation. Mr. F. I. Mann, of Oilman, Illi- nois, was made Chairman and all members of the Advisory Com- mittees were named as members, as well as the various officers of the before mentioned agricultural associations. In addition to this, prom- inent men interested throughout the state were added to the com- mittee. On October 17 this committee, which was called the General Agricultural Committee^ met, pursuant to written notice, at the Agri- cultural College at Urbana. As a result of its deliberations, the fol- lowing conclusions were arrived at: First: That conditions were most critical and the existence of the Agricultural College as a school of the first rank was at stake. Second: Any practical solution of the problem and the drawing of conclusions which could be sustained before the people of the state, would require extended and careful investigation which could not be carried out by a large body of men. Third: That a small committee must be selected which should consist of representative men who would be able and willing to give the necessary time to a thorough and exhaustive investigation, and that such investigation would necessarily require an investigation of the institutions in the neighboring states and a knowledge of the work done and the work planned in those institutions. Thereupon the following committee was appointed to undertake on behalf of the General Committee the investigation specified : F. I. Mann, Chairman, Oilman, Illinois; Auditor of the State Farmers' Institute. Ralph Allen, Delavan, Illinois ; Director of the State Farmers' In- stitute. H. J. Sconce, Sidell, Illinois; Corn Breeder and Grower. C. A. Ewing, Decatur, Illinois; Attorney-at-Law and farmer in a large way. W. N. Rudd, Blue Island, Illinois; President of Mount Green- wood Cemetery Association, Chicago, and identified with the orna- mental branches of horticulture. Upon the fact of the appointment of this committee becoming known to the Trustees of the University of Illinois, they delegated two of their members, Mr. A. P. Grout, of Winchester, Illinois, and Mr. F. L,. Hatch, of Spring Grove, Illinois, together with Eugene Davenport, Dean of the Agricultural College, to accompany the com- mittee in their tour of inspection. Upon the completion of the in- spection of other institutions, and after a subsequent thorough investi- gation of the College of Agriculture of the State of Illinois, a meet- ing of the General Agricultural Committee was again called, which was held at Urbana on December 8 and 9. At this meeting the report of the Sub-Committee was presented and unanimously approved. The Sub-Committee was continued and made a permanent committee by unanimous vote, with instructions to make public the findings in the report, and to promote in every pos- sible legitimate way the strengthening of the Agricultural College of the University of Illinois in accordance with the terms of the report so accepted. Tne Work of the Committee The committee at its first meeting decided that a knowledge of conditions in similar institutions in other states, as had been pointed out by the General Committee, was absolutely necessary; and that a proper investigation of other institutions required a knowledge of the scope of our own College, of the conditions now existing and, in a general way, of the demands made by the people of the state. A pre- liminary investigation of conditions at Urbana was undertaken by each member individually presumably in the line of supplying his own individual requirements. October 27, the committee, together with Dean Davenport and the two members of the Board of Trustees, left Chicago for Ames, Iowa, examining the Iowa College of Agriculture at that place; thence going to Lincoln, Nebraska, for an investigation of the Nebraska State College of Agriculture; thence to Minneapolis and the Min- nesota College; then to Madison, Wisconsin, and the State Agri- cultural College of Wisconsin. Later a second trip was taken in- cluding the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing, Michigan ; the Agricultural College of the State of New York, connected with Cor- nell University, Ithaca, New York; the New York State Experiment Station at Geneva, New York; and ending with the Ohio Agricul- tural College at Columbus, Ohio. The entire committee, as well as the two Trustees and Dean Davenport made the two trips with the exception of Trustee Grout, who was unable to make the visit to I^ansing, Michigan, but covered all the rest of the trip. After the return from the tour of inspection the committee met at Urbana and was in session almost continuously, days and evenings, for six days. Its work at Urbana consisted in a careful examination of the buildings, the equipment, and the scope of instruction, and a com- parison with other institutions in the light of information acquired during the trip. The committee made it a special point to closely question the leading men in other institutions as to their views upon agricultural education in general, the strong points in their own work, and also the weak parts of their organization, and the information thus gained was of much value when applied to the investigation of our own conditions. The chief of each department of the Agricultural College at Urbana was examined at length as to the needs of his department, and as to the conditions existing. The Dean of the Col- lege was called upon to corroborate or modify the opinions of his assistants. All facts were weighed, statements were sifted, differing local conditions between Illinois and other states were considered, and the committee used its best judgment to separate and discard all fads and theoretical fancies. It had in view, first, efficiency, and, hardly second, almost equally economy. In other words, its attempt was to make such recommendations as would secure for the people of Illinois in its College of Agriculture, a great, strong, economically and practically organized public service institution which should work to the betterment of the whole people of our commonwealth. The Findings op the Committee Having been so courteously received at every institution visited, and so freely and so fully advised as to the details of organization and management in each case, it would have been highly improper to make specific statements or criticisms. It may suffice to say in gen- eral that the committee found much to commend and much to rec- ommend for adoption in our own College. It also found some things to criticize, notably in some institutions what appeared to the commit- tee to be extravagant expenditure for buildings and for equipment. It found that the best work was not in all cases being done where ex- pensive buildings and expensive equipment existed. \ On the other hand it found in other institutions where the buildings and equipment were inadequate, that the work of a good corps of men was not so effective as it should be. Its findings are based on the necessity for a high grade staff, reasonably good equipment which will permit of obtaining the best results of which the staff is capable, and of a suf- ficient number of plain, well built, substantial, but not high priced buildings to house the equipment and to furnish room for properly and economically giving the instruction and research demanded. Specific Recommendations A careful scrutiny of present lines in which instruction was given and a study of the records of attendance, made it evident that none of the present lines could properly be discontinued. The committee also became convinced that the items included in the report under "New and Enlarged Lines of Work" were essential. It should be un- derstood that not all of these lines are new but that a part of them have been worked out in a small way and that the progress of agri- culture and general science, and the demand from the people of Illi- nois requires their enlargement along lines specified. Classes oe People in the State Beneeited by the Agricultural College It was understood by the committee that it. might be claimed that an enlargement and strengthening of the Agricultural College was class legislation, and was singling out the farmer for benefits denied the other citizens of the state. Secretary Wilson of the Department of Agriculture has stated that eighty-five per cent of all the materials used in manufactures are agricultural products. All of the railroads in the state of Illinois are dependent for a large proportion of their earnings upon the transportation of agricultural products from the farm and the transportation of the farmers' purchases from the cities. Every citizen of the state is dependent upon the farms for his food supply, and every move which increases the productiveness of the farm tends to increase the abundance of his food supply and decrease 6 the cost of the same. In times of large crops the state is prosperous ; in times of short crops the reverse is the case. It should be borne in mind that while trade and commerce do not increase the aggregate wealth of the country but simply transfer it from one point to an- other, the farmer is a producer and that every percent by which his crop is increased is so much added to the wealth of the state, and is, therefore, of an advantage to every other citizen in the state. However, while in certain of the new and enlarged departments of the college the activities will be directed specifically to the better- ment of the farmer, many of them apply equally to every citizen in the state. Municipal and sanitary dairying, while incidentally benefit- ing the producer of milk, have for their object the purifying and rendering safe the milk supply of the state, and thus affect to a many times greater degree the inhabitants of the cities. Landscape Garden- ing, which has for its primary object the embellishment and adorn- ment of the home grounds, affects each citizen equally. The same applies to Floriculture. The raising of poultry is becoming more and more a work carried on in the suburbs and outskirts of the cities. The conservation and increase of the forest areas, and the timberine of lands which are now waste touches all citizens both by the in- crease of resources and by the influence upon the water supply. Household organization and activities and household sanitation and health, are subjects which apply alike to every household in the state. The work of the College, therefore, both in a broad way, as has been shown, and in many specific ways, applies to all citizens of the state and cannot be regarded as favoring one class at the expense of an- other. It is a fair assumption that in the extent of money invested in agriculture and in the bulk of its agricultural products, Illinois leads all the states of the Union. The committee has given weight to this fact and yet has not attempted to create a competition in expenditures for agricultural education, or to recommend that our state make ex- penditures in proportion to those made m certain lines by states of lesser importance, but it has attempted to find out what is really needed and to recommend such expenditures as will enable the Col- lege of Agriculture of Illinois to meet the proper demands of the citi- zens of Illinois. For the Committee, W. N. RUDD. GENERAL AGRICULTURAIv COMMITTEE Report of Sub-Committee We, your committee appointed to visit the various Agricultural Colleges and to make comparative investigations of conditions exist- ing, beg leave to submit the following report : At our first meeting to give general consideration to the matter placed in our hands, it became evident that a close survey of the work in other states must be made. We, therefore, have visited the following institutions: Iowa State College of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa. Nebraska State College of Agriculture, Lincoln, Neb. Minnesota State College of Agriculture, Minneapolis, Minn. Wisconsin State College of Agriculture, Madison, Wis. Michigan Agricultural College, Lansing, MicE. New York College of Agriculture — Cornell University, Ithaca. New York State Experiment Station, Geneva, N. Y. Ohio State College of Agriculture, Columbus, O. The above list of institutions was selected to be visited as being considered typical of the various ideas and methods of instruction and research which might be of most use in considering our Illinois problem. At each institution visited an attempt was made, so far as the time at our disposal permitted, first to make a general survey of the buildings, equipment and financial resources, and of the relative em- phasis given the three different branches which must necessarily be em- braced in the activities of all such institutions which properly fulfill their functions, namely, Teaching, Research and Extension (that is the carrying to the people and the putting in practical operation the results gathered through research and experimentation) ; second, to ascertain further, by discussion with the leading men of the institu- tion visited, their general policies, separating those arising through local conditions from those of wider application. In every case we were shown the greatest courtesy and afforded every facility for ob- taining the information desired. At all institutions visited the prominent fact. was the phenomenal awakening of public interest in things agricultural, the rapidly increas- ing number of students and the new lines of work everywhere de- manded. 8 At each institution was emphasized the necessity of a better and better class of men for teaching and research, and the growing diffi- culty of obtaining and retaining them. Our unanimous conclusion is that of the three branches of work mentioned before, teaching does and must stand first. Scarcely second in importance, and essential to the best teaching, is research; while without well planned extension work, much of the results and practical application of research does not promptly reach the people for whom it is intended. In no case must extension work be allowed to infringe on the other branches, as such a course will not only decrease the effectiveness in those branches, but ultimately lower the standard of the extension work itself. The above is formulated, not with the idea that the College of Agriculture of the University of Illinois is solely a teaching institu- tion, or that it exists for research, or that its province is the dissem- ination of popular knowledge ; but that it is, and ever must be, a great public service organization for the betterment of agriculture in its broadest sense and of the people engaged directly or indirectly in agricultural pursuits. We have given especial attention to the subject of Domestic or Household Science, and our specific recommendations, to follow, have in view a radical departure in broadening and extending the scope of that most important department. After returning from our investigation of the institutions in other states we have made a careful investigation of conditions in Illinois. We feel warranted in stating that the people of our state may take just pride in their Agricultural College, in its personnel, and in the work which it has done under difficulties generally unknown, but we must not be bhnded to the fact that we now face the greatest crisis in its history. Seven years ago the College had 339 students. During these seven years, it is fair to say that the scope of agricultural education has doubled, the directions in which instruction and research are de- manded has more than doubled, and the students enrolled number nearly two and one-third times those of seven years since; while the funds and facilities available ai-e practically the same as those of 1903-04. In this connection attention is called to the following table, a careful study of which is invited : 9 Growth and Funds of College and Station, University OF Illinois Federal 1 Funds State Appropriatioa students Graduating G raduate Year Colleg-e Station College station Registered Class S tudents 90-91 $ 5,000 $15,000 7 2 91-92 S.ooo 15,000 6 0" 2 92-93 5.000 15,000 13 2 93-94 5,000 15,000 5 I 2 94-95 5,000 15,000 9 95-96 7,000 15,000 14 96-97 7,000 15,000 17 2 97-98 7,000 15,000 19 2 98-99 7,000 15,000 25 4 99-00 28,000 15,000 90 2 00-01 28,000 15,000 159 4 01-02 28,000 15,000 $ 8,000 fS4,ooo 232 4 02-03 28,000 15,000 8,000 54,000 284 9 03-04 28,000 15,000 61,000 85,000 339 10 04-05 28,000 15,000 61,000 85,000 406 18 OS-06 28,500 20,000 61,000 95,000 430 24 9 06-07 28,500 22,000 61,000 95,000 462 43 10 07-08 31,000 24,000 71,000 102,500 528 38 17 08-09 33,500 26,000 71,000 102,500 531 54 15 09-10 36,000 28,000 55,000 138,000 660 49 23 lO-II 38,500 30,000 55,000 138,000 662* ? 31* ♦Will be at least 750, all told, before the year closes, besides 50 in tlie Academy. The aTerage annual rate of Increase in the number of students for the past ten years has been over 17$&. On this basis, in two years (and before all building's recommended can be com- pleted) there will be oyer 1,000 students, and in five years there will be nearly 1,700. If the people of Illinois are to be effectively served as they have been in the past, immediate provision for not only present essentials, but for reasonable requirements in the near future must be made; otherwise our college will sink into the position of a second rate school, and our students seeking education must go to other states. Other colleges and private commercial interests are making such inroads on our present efficient corps of men that additional funds must be made available in order to maintain the present efficiency. Additional instructors must be provided to care for the more than doubled number of students and for the new lines of instruction de- manded. More men must be had for research. The demand for ex- tension work from almost every township in the state must be met by an additional force. New buildings and new equipment must be pro- vided. The establishment of agricultural instruction in the public and normal schools of the state and the training of teachers in these subjects should be pushed as rapidly as possible.. Passing every demand in review, and subjecting every item to the closest scrutiny with a view to strict economy, we submit the fol- lowing recommendations, being convinced that none may be omitted or reduced in amount without serious damage to the interests at stake. 10 New and EnIvArged Lines of Work and Cost of Maintenance NOW. PROSPECTIVE. Soil Biology $ 6,000 $ 10,000 Municipal and Sanitary Dairying S.ooo 10,000 Veterinary Science 3,000 10,000 Farm Organization and Management 10,000 , 25,000 Rural Sociology 6,000 8,000 Agricultural Education 10,000 10,000 Landscape Gardening 10,000 10,000 Floriculture 7.000 10,000 Rural Architecture 7,ooo 7,000 Poultry 10,000 10,000 Forestry 10,000 25,000 Comparative Agriculture 5.000 Genetics 3,000 10,000 Animal Nutrition 10,000 25,000 Household Organization and Activities, Household Sanitation and Health 6,000 6,000 Agricultural Extension 15,000 15,000 Farm Mechanics 10,000 20,000 Total $128,000 $216,000 Total amount immediately required as above $128,000 Less amount covered under former appropriations 32,000 Net annual amount immediately required for new and enlarged lines of work $96,000 Prospective amount for new and enlarged lines as above $216,000 Less amount immediately required 128,000 Net amount by which the immediate annual requirements must be in- creased in the near future $ 88,000 Buildings Repair Fund, s per cent, of $295,000 invested in buildings $ 14,750 Addition to Agronomy Greenhouse 9,000 Plant Breeding House 8,000 Present Glass Houses rebuilt and enlarged 3S,ooo To complete Horticultural and Field Laboratory 9,000 Addition to Agricultural Building, 100,000 sq. ft 337,5oo Dairy Cattle Building 40,000 Dairy Investigating Barn 12,000 Horse Building 40,000 Sheep Buildings iS,ooo Judging Pavilion 100,000 Tool Barn on South Farm 2,000 Clinic Building 5,000 Alteration Farm Mechanics Building 8,000 Total amount for buildings which must be built at once $635,250 Considering the fact that Household Science has twice outgrown its quarters, and that the present rooms are entirely inadequate for serving more than the present enrollment of 225, and considering the growing importance of a serious study of the home as an economic and social institution, the Committee recommends that at the next 11 biennium succeeding the coming session, appropriations should be made for a building sufficiently commodious to provide for the ade- quate study of the affairs of the home whether by women or by men, and that such a building fully equipped should cost not less than $200,000. Equipment Dairy Cattle $8000 Beef Cattle 8,000 Horses 12,000 Sheep 2,000 Swine 2,000 T7 TVyf U- $32,000 Farm Machinery 3,500 Total new equipment immediately required $ 3S.S00 Maintenance (Annually) Agronomy $ 10,400 Animal Husbandry 20,000 Dairy Husbandry 20,500 Horticulture 21,300 Veterinary Science 2,000 Household Science 5,000 College Extension 9,900 General OfiSces 7,000 $ 96,100 Salaries Total present salary of the teaching faculty $ 9S,ooo Vacancies and cost of filling 8,600 Increase necessary to maintain a body of first class men 15,000 Additional assistance because of increased number of students 16,400 Total amount required annually for salaries to continue the teach- ing work in its present scope $135,000 SUMMARY Amounts required to supply the Urgent Needs of the Agricultural College of the University of the State of Illinois: Annual Appropriations Salaries $135,000 Maintenance 96,100 New lines of work 96,000 $327,100 Deduct Federal Appropriations 40,000 Total Annual Appropriations by the State $287,100 Appropriations to be Made but once. New Equipment $ 35,500 Buildings 635,250 Total ...;... $670,750 Total appropriations to be made for the coming biennium $1,244,950 12 The Committee early decided that in view of the rapidly increas- ing number of students anything like temporary methods were not only inadequate and futile but were bound to result in a waste of money. Accordingly, the purpose has been to look ahead as far as may be in order that the recommendations may become a part of a comprehensive plan, and in several instances recommendations are divided between what must be provided at once on account of the life of the institution and those needs that are clearly coming in the future. The above may probably be made to cover the requirements for a period of five years. We believe it should be the policy of the college to take part in public exhibitions of an educational nature, but are firmly con- vinced that the established policy of not entering into competitive exhibitions should be commended and continued. The attention of fairs and expositions especially is called to the fact that the work of the college and station affords much excellent material for attractive exhibits, but that such exhibitions should be strictly educational and not competitive; first, because such institu- tions are established as educational agencies ; second, because no basis for competition exists between educational exhibits; and third, be- cause the support is all derived from public funds. The committee has included no estimates therefore for defraying its expenses of competitive exhibits. The following table gives in comparative form as furnished to us, the most important facts regarding the other institutions visited. 13 How THE Illinois College o? Agriculture Compares WITH Its Neighbors "S ©ooooo oo "uSJovnoovcoo '='0 > ■^ tn o n C> D XI .M W MHpOOOOOOOOO (5 otfooooooooo M „_aoooooooo\/3^ W 3Jgioor«roi>oo-bfoc f^ J> in « tCrSS •^ « -si- "5 -*■ M M L, to 3 Ho OT^^o■5^^■*OOfO■* O 5 S iz; M o S OOO OOOO » CmOOO OOOO W OtSOoO OOOO m ®- >-J oooo oo O « 5l:ii|i1||lll| P "Jj ." :>-i .S . ^ O X "^ - ti^ flj "fH :»^ "tH a ja >i^ 3 ^ 125 s ^ ;^ iz; O S J! 14 It should be noted that the amount recommended herein to be appropriated for new buildings at the Illinois College of Agriculture is less than 40 per cent of that provided for in New York and when the buildings planned in both states are completed, New York will have $2.75 invested in buildings as against $1.00 in Illinois, although her agricultural interests do not even approximate those of Illinois in extent. While not technically a part of the college, the work of the State Entomologist is so closely related and of such great importance to all departments of agriculture that we wish to bespeak most care- ful consideration of his requirements. We recommend the appropria- tion of $38,000 asked by him for this work. Respectfully submitted, F. I. Mann, Oilman, 111., Chairman. Rai,ph Ai,i .9 .55 .n ,9 !> ife !> "b ,05 ,Ci ,0 .C) ffi 1 .s .§ .0 -'a .§ .0 .§ .S .C5 .§ .^ .5 S s .§ OQ .0 tssooo 100000 10000 Soooo zsooo ^ Besides these considerations the increased demand for instruction is out of all proportion to mere numbers of students. Thus in the year 1902 with 232 students we had only 4 graduates, but in 1907 with 462 students or double the former number, we had 43 graduates or over ten times as many as before, and now we have 52 seniors who expect to graduate the present year. It is the upper classmen that require the most expensive instruction and the highest salaried teachers. In addition to this, the college now has a registration of IS gradu- ate students seeking specialized instruction beyond the four years' undergraduate course. These graduate students are the most costly of all to provide for. Industrial education prepares the way for a Turner. of labor. — 12 Careful study of diagrams 1 and 2 will show the remarkable cor- respondence between the attendance of students and the facilities for their instruction. This is best shown in diagram 3, in which note how promptly the increase of attendance in 1900 followed upon the in- creased funds for the necessary expenses of the college. Diagrams — Showing the Close Correspondence between At-_ tendance and funds available for the support of the College. Note the Abrupt Turn in 1899. .o p -o .9 .9 ,9 .55 .0 § .C5 .0 .0 .c5 .0 ,c) .C5 .0 2 C5 •^ OJ "> 'l- ITi vi^ t^ on pi .10 ■^ .C5 •^ ^ Animal Nutrition Investigations ^^Practically all of the cattle feeding experiments at the Illinois Experiment Station have been carried on in car load lots in order to secure farm conditions and eliminate as far as possible the differences in individuals. These experiments had not proceeded far, however, until it became evident that in order to settle some of the more diffi- cult|questions|oi^animal nutrition it would be necessary to do some Thejippetite of the fattening animal is not a safe guide to follow. Tfmay mean expensive gains. 20 more careful work with a limited number of selected animals, subject- ing all the feed and all the excreta to the most careful chemical analy- sis. Accordingly a laboratory was fitted up with a corps of the best investigators to study by these means some of the detail problems connected with the physiology of the animal and the digestion and utilization of its food. The laboratory is now working on the question of the influence of the amount of feed upon its digestibility. Duplicate series of steers are fed the same rations except that they vary in amount. Four lots are fed as follows: Lot 1, a maintenance ration in which the steers neither gain nor lose in weight; lot 4, full feed. That is the steers in this lot are given all they will eat. The difference in amounts fed — these two widely varying amounts of feed — is divided into three equal parts. The resulting amount thus secured when added to the amount required for maintenance and one-third rations constitutes the amount of feed fed respectively to Lot 2, getting the one-third ration, and Lot 3, getting the two-thirds ration. There are four duplicate series. Series 4 of which are now getting the following amounts of com per steer per day: Lot 1, maintenance, 7 potmds; Lot 2, one-third ration, llj pounds; Lot 3, two-thirds ration, 1S§ pounds; and Lot 4, full fed, 20 potmds. In addition they each re- ceive clover hay in amotmts which correspond to the amounts of com fed. This experiment has been running for four and one-half months and the chemical data thus secured show that the steers receiving the largest amounts of feed do not digest as large a proportion of their feed as do the steers getting the smaller rations. This shows, conclusively, that the appetite of the steer is not a safe guide in determining the most economical ration for fattening, and that it is easily possible to make a steer consume more com than he can use to good advantage. So striking are these results, that the steers getting the two-thirds ration have actually made greater absolute gains than those receiving full feed. It is a matter of common knowledge that the almost uni- versal rule of the cattle feeder is to give the steer all he will eat. This experiment shows the possibility of making a great saving by restricting the amount fed. To just what extent this restricting can be most profitably carried only further very carefully planned and executed tests will show. It is not only to complete this investigation relative to the in- fluence of amounts of feed in the ration of fattening cattle, but also with breeding and growing cattle and to extend the work to similar 21 investigations with sheep and swine, that further appropriations are asked. This laboratory will supplement and furnish substantial aid to the horse, cattle, sheep, and swine feeding investigations. Questions of fundamental importance in the feeding of animals will be investi- gated. This laboratory will serve the same purpose in relation to the feeding of animals that the soil fertility laboratory now serves in relation to the feeding of plants, or more generally spoken of as soil fertility. In providing for the support of the work of this animal nutrition laboratory, an advanced and highly important step in live stock investigations will be taken. Other investigations are also contemplated among which are the following : The influence of varying amounts of the different food nutrients upon digestion. Such an investigation would throw much light upon the practical question as to what extent does the supplementing of the ration of com with oil meal or cottonseed-meal increase the digesti- bility of com and under what conditions and to what extent is its use justified in stock feeding practice. To what extent is the appearance, flavor, chemical composition and nutritive value of meat affected by the various systems of feeding ? At the present time a portion of the time of a bacteriologist is being employed in making investigations concerning contagious abor- tion in cattle. This disease from the cattle breeders' standpoint, is second to none in importance and it is hoped to continue the work. The successful carrying out of these and other important investi- gations in a thorough, exhaustive,' practical, and scientific manner, will unquestionably lead to results which will be of very much value to the farmers of Illinois, and at the same time, such careful and accurate scientific studies will xmdoubtedly greatly aid in the discovery and establishment of the natural principles and laws of animal nutri- tion, which will in the end, upon application to the practical problems of feeding, prove of genuine and lasting value to the stockmen of this state, and at the same time, keep and maintain our Agricultural Ex- periment Station in the front rank in Animal Husbandry. There is no quicker, more practicable or more economical method of maintaining soil fertility under existing conditions than the conversion of farm crops into live stock products and manure, and the intelligent preservation and application of this manure. 22 Publication of Bulletins An appropriation for the publication of bulletins is asked for, not to care for future work of this kind, but to publish results already on hand, the outcome of completed investigations, and for the publica- tion of which funds are not available. It should be remembered that the pubHcation of bulletins and circulars detailing the results of investi- gations, is yearly getting to be a larger and larger item of expense owing to the increased cost of paper and the increased size of the editions necessary to supply the increasing demand (an edition of 50,000 of each bulletin is now put out). The present approximate cost of bulletins per page is $18.00. By referring to bulletin No. 122 of the Animal Husbandry Depart- ment, entitled Market Classes and Grades of Horses and Mules, it will be seen that this single bulletin cost nearly $1750. At the present time, enough data are in hand to publish eight bulletins, some of which will cost more and some less than Bulletin 122 referred to. Economic Study of the Place of Live Stock in Illinois Agri- culture Elsewhere some facts are presented looking toward emphasizing the importance and necessity of making such investigations. A few phases of the general subject are here suggested, careful study of which would result in establishing facts of great economic significance with reference to the present income of our farmers and to the future agricultural wealth of the state. Systems of live stock farming which have proved profitable under conditions which have prevailed in Illinois. Changes in systems likely to be advisable under changing con- ditions. Effect on the market of the demand for com and other products for stock feeding purposes. Live stock as a market for grain and forage crops. Effect of systems of farming upon farm ownership and tenantry. The relation of live stock production to soil fertility. Capital, labor and education as factors in live stock production. Investigations in Breeding and Feeding Horses During the past season, investigations were carried on to deter- mine the relative value of clover hay as compared to timothy hay for // the interests of Illinois farmers and Illinois as an agricultural state are to be conserved, the present tendency of grain farming at the expense of lessening live stock production must he checked. 23 feeding farm horses. These investigations should be continued and extended to include more horses than is possible at the present time, and there are many problems which should be taken up as soon as possible, such as : The best methods of preparing grain and hay for horses. The proportion of grain to hay for best results with fattening and work horses. Relative value of mixed hay as compared with timothy, clover and alfalfa. Methods of feeding and developing colts and young horses which will give best results. Investigations in Breeding and Feeding Swine No other class of live stock is so imiversally kept on Illinois farms, as swine. Adequate provision for the investigation of problems re- lated to swine husbandry would therefore seem to be an obligation which must be fully and thoroughly discharged. The work of the division of swine husbandry has in view the development of a new feeding standard, or in other words, the de- termination of the various factors that enter into the practical problem of swine feeding. The work thus far was successful to the extent that 40% more gain in live weight was produced at a smaller feed require- ment per poimd with the new standard in its present stage of develop- ment, than with the old or Wolfif and Lehmann Standard. When we stop to consider that the old standard will give better results than are obtained by the average farmer, and that the economic conditions at present, are such that pork production is rapidly becoming tmprofit- able, the time cannot be brought about too soon when a new system of feeding shall have been evolved that will return more profit to the farmer. In one of the latest experiments of the series thus far conducted, which concludes nine experiments in all, involving more than 400 pigs, all of which were raised on the University farm, it appeared that by increasing the ether extract or fat factor or by feeding more ether extract than is ordinarily present in common food stuffs, except in soy beans, that more complete digestion and assimilation of a ration resulting in greater final live weight are possible. This, however, is not as yet final and will need further work. No other class of live stock is so universally kept on Illinois farms as swine. Adequate provision for the investigation of problems related to swine husbandry would therefore seem to be an obligation which must be fully and thoroughly discharged. 24 The latest discovery in this series of experiments is the import- ance of the water factor. Apparently the amount of water consumed by the pig, exerts a profound influence upon its final live weight. The importance of this factor, as stated above, has just been dis- covered and the amoimt of water necessary has yet to be determined. And this, together with the ether extract factor, is the object of im- mediate future investigation. The factors thus far are proteid, carbohydrate, administration of the ration, ether extract and water. When the latter two will have been solved under the conditions pre- vailing in regard to the first two, then perhaps the first will have to be re-determined under the conditions then prevailing in regard to the latter. Investigations in Breeding and Feeding Sheep There are extensive lands in Illinois peculiarly adapted to sheep raising, and this branch of farming certainly needs developing in this state. The amount asked for investigations in sheep husbandry, would scarcely finance the three investigations herewith suggested. At the present time, there is a very unsettled feeling among sheep feeders as to the value of com silage, and a thorough investigation of the methods of feeding silage to sheep and lambs is a timely and im- portant question for investigation. The collection and publication of data on methods of sheep feed- ing in Illinois, and possibly in a few other sections where the con- ditions are somewhat similar to our own, is contemplated. Placing the experience of a large number of successful sheep feeders in the hands of Illinois sheepmen would result in great benefit to them and incidentally suggest to Station authorities investigations which would be most likely to result in greatest good. Investigations with a view to publishing a bulletin on market classes and grades of wool. There are signs of a movement to en- courage by way of remuneration, those who practice care in the pro- duction and marketing of their wool. Meat Investigations The following statement of the proposed investigations relative to meats is respectfully submitted as being of sufficient importance to warrant liberal appropriations for this work: The cheaper cuts of meat in many instances have as high a food value as the more expensive ones . 25 A study of carcasses of cattle, sheep and hogs of different ages, classes and grades, with reference to the wholesale and retail cuts and the proportion of visible lean, fat and bone and other refuse in each retail cut. It is proposed to continue the work already done along this line with beef carcasses and to co-operate as heretofore with the Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry so as to secure a chemical analysis of the different parts of each retail cut. The by-products of each animal slaughtered will also be thoroughly studied with a view to securing accurate information on the value of these products. The results already secured here along this line have indicated the value of the work, especially with regard to the comparative importance of different parts of the carcass, based upon the amount of each food compound, and of refuse material they contain. It is an investigation which will provide data for a campaign of education among con- sumers of meat. This campaign of education of consumers of meat having as its chief object, the encouragement of a more general use of .the relatively cheaper cuts of meat which in many instances have as high a food value as the more expensive ones. One of the largest reasons for the low price of cattle on the hoof as compared with that of beef upon the block, is the fact that most buyers of meat, ignorant of the various cuts, insist on having only the best, leaving the bulk of the carcass as a drug on the market. A propaganda on the true relative values of the different cuts of meat, and in favor of boiling would do more than any one influence not only to reduce the cost of living, but also save the industry of cattle feed- ing, which at present, is suffering not only from this want of intelli- gence on the part of the buyer, but also from competition with other and cheaper forms of meat. Curing meats with and without saltpeter. — The curing of meats for the use of the "Saltpeter Squad " of the Laboratory of Physiologi- cal Chemistry, has furnished considerable data regarding the influence of saltpeter on the market value of hams, bacon, dried beef, corned beef and beef tongues. It is desired to publish these results, and it 'is suggested that certain parts of the investigation be made more complete before proceeding to publish the results. The beneficial effect of saltpeter from the standpoint of the market value of the meat has been very marked, especially regarding the flavor, color and consistency of the meat and the prevention of shrinkage. Bulletin 111 shows that by the use of silage in winter to the 231,000 beef breeding cows in Illinois $1.00 per head could be saved. 26 The farm uses of meats in Illinois. — An investigation to determine the extent of slaughtering animals on the farm, kinds of animals, and methods used in handling the meat and the extent to which purchased meats have taken the place of home prepared meats. Results al- ready obtained in this inquiry, indicate that the subject is of great importance, and that practical suggestions for the more extensive use of home-killed meats would be of great value. The work of the Department of Animal Husbandry thus briefly outlined, shows something of the scope and importance of the work. In fixing the several amounts for the various divisions of the work of the Department and the total for the Department, the Live Stock Advisory Committee were conservative, the express desire being to ask for as little in the way of appropriations as would be consistent with the imminent needs of the work. Not a dollar more was asked for than is urgently needed. Publications Issued The first bulletin of the Experiment Station published detailing the results of live stock investigations made possible by the appro- priations of the State Legislature of Illinois, was published in June, 1902. Since that time, several important investigations have been conducted and the results of these investigations have been given to the public in bulletin or circular form. The following is a complete list. BULLETIN TITLE DATE OP NO. PUBLICATION 73 "Comparison of Silage and Shock Com for Winter- ing Calves Intended for Beef Production." June, 1902. 78 "Market Classes and Grades of Cattle with Sugges- tions for Interpreting Market Quotations." July, 1902. 83 "Feeds Supplementary to Com for Fattening Steers.'^ January, 1903. 9'0 "Fattening Steers of the Various Market Grades." December, 1903. 97 "Market Classes and Grades of Swine.'' November, 1904. 103 "Comparison of Methods of Preparing Com and Clover Hay for Fattening Steers." Augfust, 190S. 109 "The Location, Construction and Operation of Hog Houses." Jtme, 1906. 110 "Storage Bam, Sheds, Feed Lots and Other Equip- ment for Feeding Experimental Cattle in Car- load Lots." July, 1906. 111 "Maintenance Ration for Beef Breeding Cows." August, 1906. 122 "Market Classes and Grades of Horses and Mules." January, 1908. 129 "Market Classes and Grades of Sheep." ' November, 1908. Bulletin 73 and Circular 61 show that in the wintering of the 700,000 calves in Illinois nearly twice that number of dollars could be made by the use of silage in place of the ordinary methods. 27 CIRCULAR TITLE DATE OF NO. PUBLICATION 61 'Supplement to Bulletin 73." November, 1902. 65 "Live Stock Investigations." February, 1903. 79 "Present Methods of Beef Production." July, 1904. 83 "The Swine Industry from the Market Standpoint." November, 1904. 88 "Present Methods of Fattening Cattle." March, 190 S. 91 "Hogs Following Cattle in the Feed Lot." April, 1905. 92 "Feeds and Their Preparation." May, 1905. 94 "Breeding Beef Cattle for the Market." July, 190S. 98 "Feed Lots and Shelter," September, 1905 104 "Detailed Bill of Material for Storage Bam, Sheds, Feed Lots and Other Equipment for Feeding Experimental Cattle in Car Lots." Julyi 1 906. Publications in Preparation The following bulletins are being prepared for publication: 1. "Beef Production in Argentina." 2. "Age as a Factor in Fattening Cattle." 3. "The So-Called 'Short Feed' in Cattle Feeding." 4. "Market Classes and Grades of Meat." 5. " Wastes and Food Value of the Retail Cuts of Beef." 6. "Horse Feeding Experiments." 7. "Sheep Feeding Experiments." 8. "Swine Feeding Experiments." Also the following circulars : 9. "Summary of Swine Feeding Experiments." 10. "Sheep Feeding from the Market Standpoint." Important Investigations Now in Progress 1. A Digestion Experiment with Mature Steers to Determine the Effect of Varying Amounts of Feed upon its Digestibility. 2. The Effect of Varying Amounts of Water in the Ration of Fattening Hogs as well as Methods for its Introduction into the Ration. 3. The Farm Curing of Meats. 4. A Comparison of Rations for Farm Horses at Work. 5. Sheep Feeding Methods in Illinois. Farmers have become so accustomed to ignoring the fertility pro- duced by systems , of live stock production , in comparing them with ruinous systems of grain farming, that the comparison has frequently appeared favorable to grain farming. u-itj^h A good revenue system will provide as much for development as is needed for dependents. 28 Have the Results of Illinois Live Stock Investigations Been Worth While? The following facts determined by the Animal Husbandry De- partment of the University of Illinois as a result of these investigations should constitute a sufficient answer: 1. Com silage when supplemented with oats and hay, used for wintering calves intended for beef production, will produce 35 pounds more gain per steer during the season at the same cost of ration than when shock com similarly supplemented is fed. This extra gain is worth five cents per pound or $1.75 per calf. There are over 700,000 calves wintered in Illinois each year. (For full report of this experi- ment, see Bulletin 73 and Circular 61.) 2. In the wintering of beef breeding cows, the use of silage sup- plemented with oat straw and clover hay produced gains in weight over a system of shock com, clover hay and oat straw, equivalent to $1.00 per cow wintered. Gains in this instance being considered worth 3'.5 cents per pound. Not one percent of the beef cows are wintered with silage at present. According to the twelfth census of the total cattle in Illinois, there are 231,040 beef cows. It is easy to compute the economic significance of an investigation which shows how to save $1.00 per head in wintering them. (See Bulletin 111 for further important facts.) 3. Circulars 79, 88, 91, 92, 94 and 98, in which data gathered in the investigation of present methods of beef production have been read and studied by many. The importance and value of these publi- cations can be only partially realized when it is known that the data presented represents the experience of 1,100 practical and successful cattle feeders who have had a combined experience of 14,000 years in the feeding of a grand total of 1,300,000 cattle. Is it too much to expect that this information made available to every cattle feeder would, if intelligently used, save $1.00 per head in the feeding, management, buying or selling of the 2,065,816 head in the State? 4. Fully six percent of the cattle marketed each year in Illinois, or 28,500, are fed timothy hay as roughage. Bulletin 83 of the Illi- nois Experiment Station, gives the results of an investigation inquir- ing into the relative merits of timothy and clover hays as roughage for fattening cattle. The results show that clover hay as roughage, made it possible to secure $8.71 more profit per steer than where timothy hay is fed. This experiment then, served as an effective obiect lesson 29 showing conclusively how $250,000 more profit might be made by the cattle feeders of Illinois, many of whom did not appreciate until this test was made the marked inferiority of timothy and the great value of clover hay as a supplement to com ia cattle feeding. 5. The hog house designed and erected by the Illinois Experi- ment Station, is being widely used as a model by breeders, Experiment Stations and Agricultural Colleges throughout the country. 6. The new feeding standard for swine worked out at the Illi- nois Station makes it possible to produce a hog 60 pounds heavier at eight months of age and on but little more total feed and less feed per 100 pounds live weight than the old standards. It is estimated that over 2,000,000 hogs are annually produced in Illinois. An extra gain of 60 pounds on each at 5 cents per pound would mean a gross income gain of six million dollars annually to the farmers of Illi- nois and upwards of $134,000,000 to the swine growers of the United States, considerably over half of which would be clear profit. 7. It is beUeved by many sheep feeders that hay should form a considerably larger part of the ration than grain. Investigations, relative to this subject at this Station, conclusively prove the reverse to be true, the most economical results being secured where the pro- portion of these feeds is one to one. 8. Sheep feeders commonly entertain the idea that it pays to add oil meal to a ration of shelled com and clover hay. In an experi- ment, this idea was tested by making 10% of the concentrate part of the ration in one lot oil meal. By valuing com at 35 cents per bushel, clover hay at $10.00 per ton and oil meal at $28.00, the results showed that the cost of gains where shelled com and clover hay alone were fed, was 5 cents per pound, while with the oil meal supplement it was 5.S cents. Where feeding the com crop to lambs is practiced, this ex- periment demonstrates that in a yield of 60 bushels of com per acre, $3.75 per acre would be saved by feeding shelled com and clover hay rather than supplementing the com with oil meal. 9. During the past three years, two horse feeding experiments in fleshing horses for market have been conducted. The results of these experiments are now being put into shape to be published, and when issued, will be of great value to horse producers. These experi- ments show that the producer who sells his horses in thin flesh, is losing a source of profit. In the above experiments flesh put on thin' Sheep husbandry should he greatly extended in Illinois. 30 heavy horses proved to be worth 25 cents per potind. One experi- ment also showed to a marked degree, the superiority of clover hay to that of timothy, for producing flesh on thin horses. In this in- stance timothy hay produced 37% less gain than did the clover. 10. A single grain ration of com fed in conjunction with clover hay, produced 23% less gain than a mixed grain ration of equal parts of oats and com. The addition of bran to the ration in the propor- tion of 5 bran to * com did not prove of any material benefit to that of an all com ration for producing gains. It was also found that horses given daily exercise produced 25% less gain than did horses without exercise. 11. It is difficult to estimate the value of the market classes and grades series of bulletins for cattle, swine, horses and sheep. At the time of the St. Louis World's Fair, the management considered the bulletin on Market Classes and Grades of Cattle of such great import- ance, that the Department of Animal Husbandry was asked to pre- pare an exhibit which would represent the grades illustrated and de- scribed in this bulletin. (78) This exhibit was prepared and was pronounced the most valuable, from an educational point of view, of any live stock exhibit in the entire show. A similar exhibit was made at the International Live Stock Exhibition the same year, and simi- larly commended. Since that time, bulletins on the Market Classes and Grades of swine, horses and sheep have been prepared and this series taken together, comprise the only one of the kind and is a very valuable contribution to Animal Husbandry literature. These bulle- tins placed in the hands of our Illinois stockmen, facts which should enable them to know the market types of farm animals most in de- mand and which command top prices. Only a few of the important facts determined as a result of the live stock investigations have been enumerated. Enough specific points have been mentioned, however, to indicate the practical nature of the work and its great value in aiding stockmen to make their stock farming operations more profitable. Every Illinois farmer who feeds a bushel df corn makes a two-fold contribution to the profitable and permanent agriculture of the state. First, by saving a large part of the fertility to the farm; and second, by aiding materially in increasing the demand for, and maintaining the high value of this important farm product. 31 Do the stockman and farmers benefit by the live stock investiga- tions at the University? This is a pertinent and fair question. That the number of readers of the bulletins is rapidly increasing, is indicated by the very large in- crease in the number of names on the permanent bulletin mailing list and the further fact that the large editions of four of the Animal Husbandry bulletins are exhausted notwithstanding a large second edition of two of these was published to satisfy urgent calls for them. Many experienced stockmen, who were at first inclined to be critical, are now among those who are loudest in their praise of the value of experimental work. Bulletin No. Ill of the Animal Husbandry Department was re- sponsible for calling out the following editorial comment in Wallace's Farmer of October 30, 1908 issue: "The Illinois Experiment Station, which can always be expected to be at work on a problem two or three years before the farmers think seriously about it, and hence have reliable information at hand when it is wanted, has taken up the question of the winter maintenance for cows kept for the sole purpose of raising calves, feeding them with the feeds than can be grown most economically in the com country." The estimates here presented, represent by no means the amounts that could be used to advantage for the development of the live stock interests of the state, but they are the amounts which, all things con- sidered those best qualified to judge — ^the live stock advisory com- mittee and the station workers — they are the amounts which these people believe should now be devoted to this work. One thing is certain, anything less will sacrifice interests for the different lines of work cannot be carried on in a way to be of value on amotmts less than these mentioned. It is a large and diffiGult work, and the interest is important. Not only that, but just now the temptation is to abandon stock farming for the (apparently) more profitable grain farming, but if stock farming is reduced, the need for grain is also reduced and the profits of farming will decline as well as the fertility of the land. The interests of all parties, therefore, demand that instead of allowing live stock 'farming to decline in Illinois, it is for the best interests of all that it should now be further developed. A very considerable extension of meat production in Illinois would materially increase the cash output pom her farms and at the same time save millions to the future wealth of the state by keeping on the farms a large percentage of the fertility that is now sold off in the form of corn, oats and hay. 32 FOR SOIL INVESTIGATIONS Annual Appropriation Recommended $100,000 The primary purpose of the soil investigations of the state is to discover and demonstrate practical methods of increasing and per- manently maintaining the productive capacity of the soils of Illinois. Sufficient information has already been secured to show that the agricultural methods in most common use in Illinois, will, if continued, ultimately reduce our crop yields and our land values, as certainly as similar methods have almost ruined lands in many old countries, in our own Eastern States, and even some of the older lands in this state. A preliminary general survey of the soils of Illinois has furnished much information that is already being utilized to advantage on the most extensive soil types. (See Bulletin 123). In order to ascertain the location, extent, and the boundaries of every different type of soil in Illinois, a detail soil survey of the state is being made by the Experiment Station, the composition and needs of each soil being determined by chemical analysis and by pot culture experiments. The soil types of twenty-eight cotuities (nearly completed) have already been accurately identified and their boundaries carefully located, down to areas of less than ten acres. Not only that, the principal types are being exhaustively studied both by chemical and physical analysis and to some extent by pot cultures. In some cases, experiment fields have been established where the treatment indicated by laboratory investigations is put to the actual test under ordinary field conditions. So suggestive and beneficial have been these results that a general demand has arisen that these surveys be rapidly pushed to cover the remaining counties of the state with as little delay as possible. A sufficient number of coxmties has been surveyed in the different soil formations to show that the methods adopted and the system of classi- fication employed can be used as a standard for the state and the time has arrived when colored soil maps of more than twenty counties, well distributed over the state, are ready for publication, which, when published, will show the exact extent of the many different types of The wealth of Illinois is in her soil and her strengtK'4ies in its in- telligent development. — Draper. 33 soil in the various counties. Together with these maps should be published the composition of the soils and the treatment found most effective on each; but owing to inadequate appropriations, during the past two years, the work of analyzing the soils is now much be- hind and practically no funds are available for publication. The estimate of $100,000 for soil investigations is based upon these general demands for more rapid progress in the Illinois soil sur- vey and for the publication of the results, which has not been possible with the limited appropriation under which the work has been carried on in the past. At the present rate of appropriations, it will require about forty years to complete the soil survey of the entire state, in- cluding the analysis of soils from all of the counties and a sufficient amotmt of field experimentation to furnish conclusive information concerning methods for maintaining or increasing the productive capacity of the various soil types of the state and the publication of the completed reports for the 102 counties. If, however, the appropriation can be increased from $25,000 to $100,000 per annum, the soil survey and all of the analytical work can be completed during the next ten years and the information placed in the hands of the farmers for immediate use. Besides this, it will greatly increase the number of experimental fields and provide for demonstration in many parts of the state in which no experiment fields are located at the present time. The whole question resolves itself into this: There is about so much work to be done, and from the standpoint of value to the state it certainly seems wise to complete the soil survey of every cotmty as rapidly as possible, rather than to prolong the work to cover a period of forty years, especially considering the fact that old lands are al- most invariably poorer than new lands; that the general tendency of present practices is toward soil depletion; that to adopt systems of soil improvement, even tho more profitable in the long run than the present practices, will require some initial investment on the part of the farmers, and that if the lands in general are allowed to become impoverished the farmers and landowners will become too poor to make any such investments, except for the most immediate returns. This is already the condition of many farmers on the impoverished lands of our eastern and southern states. Money devoted to the development of the producing powers of a state is an investment, not an outlay. 34 It will be an easy matter to delay the adoption of permanent systems of agriculture in Illinois until it becomes practically impossible to do so; for poverty is helpless. And this does not apply to the far distant future only. It is absolutely true that thousands of Illinois farmers and landowners are already asking the Experiment Station how to restore the fertility of their soils. Illinois should do quickly what she needs to do. For many farms thirty or fifty years from now will be too late. Thousands of Ohio farms are now selling for less than half what they sold for thirty and forty years ago. If we are ever to adopt permanent systems of soil improvement, it must be done while we are still prosperous and still able, out of our abun- dance, to give back to the soil whatever it may need. It must be understood by all that no great country has ever been able to maintain the fertility of the soils by means of farm manure alone; in part because animals and animal products are not made of nothing, and in part because the world must have bread as well as meat. The practice of the art of agriculture, based upon "working the soil for all that's in it," has resulted in practical land ruin in all ex- tensive agricultural cotmtries ; and, if this is to be avoided in Illinois, agricultural science must furnish the information for the proper guidance of agricultural practice. Crop production in this State, especially in com and wheat, has already made some substantial increase since the Experiment Station began the investigation of Illinois soils and crops, as first authorized by the General Assembly in 1901, but thus far this increase, as ex- plained in the Crop Section, has been made largely by following the Station's teaching in the use of improved seed and by better methods of planting, better cultivation, and better drainage. A few farmers have also adopted methods for the permanent maintenance of the fertility of the soil, but in the main Illinois soils are being depleted even more rapidly because of the larger crops removed. The publication of reports of the soil investigations, with colored maps of the detail soil survey by counties, is impossible with the present appropriation, unless the working force is reduced, the men who have been trained in Illinois to survey Illinois soils are let go, and the soil experiment fields in different parts of the state are discon- It is cheaper to make good lands better than to restore the fertility of exhausted soils. 35 tinued, just as they are becoming of the greatest value. Already the state has stifEered some serious loss in this direction. Surely this is no time to part with the services of skilled investigators. It is worth while to keep in mind that the present annual appro- priation ($25,000) for the investigation of all the soils in the 102 counties in Illinois is less than the actual selling price of one quarter section of good land ia the com belt and only one-twentieth of the $500,000 appropriated by the last General Assembly (and wisely no doubt) for the purchase of land for one of the state penitentiaries (at Joliet). If the average annual tax on Illinois lands amounts to 30 cents per acre, then for every dollar paid in taxes on land in this state one-quarter of one cent is being used at present for the purpose of securing definite information that should make possible the adoption of permanent systems of soU improvement; and, if the annual appro- priation for soil investigations is increased to $100,000, the amount will still be less than one percent of the taxes paid on Illinois lands. The comparative importance of this matter to the Common- wealth is better appreciated by considering some of the results already accomplished. Perhaps the quickest returns have come from the investigation of peaty swamp soils, which were found to be exceedingly deficient in the element potassium. These lands are especially abun- ' dant in Whiteside, Kankakee, and Mason counties, and in most counties adjoining these. By means of soil analysis and the use of soil experiment fields carried on in those sections, the Experiment Station soon discovered the difficulty and demonstrated a practical remedy; and it is well within the known facts to say that the net profits now being secured annually from the use of potassium on these soils is alone far above the total annual cost of all soil investigations for the state. On the soil experiment fields near Momence in Kankakee county, three plots of ground not treated with potassium have produced 11.0 bushels, 10.2 bushels, and 14.7 bushels of com, respectively, per acre, as a total for six years ; while three other plots of similar intervening or adjoining land, treated with potassitun, have produced 264.8 bushels, 262.7 bushels, and 232.4 bushels, respectively, per acre as a total for six years. Economy for the poor consists in not spending; but economy for the able consists in spending to advantage. 36 These abnormal peaty swamp lands are not only producing 30 to SO bushels more com per acre than formerly, but the value of the land itself has correspondingly increased. In southern Illinois it has been discovered that the principal prairie soils in twenty-five counties are too acid to grow clover suc- cessfully tmder normal conditions, and the Experiment Station has fully demonstrated that this soil acidity can be corrected most safely and most economically by ground limestone, after which clover can be grown. Immense natural deposits of limestone of excellent quality have been found in and near this great area of acid soils, and these inex- haustible supplies are now being made available for the improvement of southern Illinois soils, includiag surplus limestone screenings from the State Penitentiary at Chester, by direction of the Governor and the Board of Prison Industries. Land values in southern Illinois are increasing because of these facts. In the unglaciated area in the extreme southern part of the state, it has been found that nitrogen is the most deficient plant food element in the worn hill lands, some of which are already being abandoned so far as ordinary cropping is concerned. These soils are also refusing to grow clover, which they once grew successfully. Here, too, soil acidity has been found to have developed, and marked improvement can be made on these soils with ground limestone and clover or other legumes, by means of which nitrogen is secured from the air. Thus, by legume-lime treatment the yield of wheat has already been in- creased from an average of 4 bushels to IS bushels per acre on the Ex- periment Station field in Johnson Coimty; and the yield of com has been increased 1 S bushels as an average of the last four years. Alfalfa has also been grown successfully on experiment fields, and, with sufii- cient demonstration and instruction, this most valuable crop can be introduced over all of the worn hill country in southern Illinois, with its power to change the value of those lands from $1S an acre to $100 land, and to assist greatly in solving the problem of soil washing. Perhaps the most important fact thus far discovered is that the element phosphorus is becoming deficient in the most common types of soil in the state, both in the most valuable prairie lands, in the com belt in central and northern Illinois, and in the wheat belt in southern Illinois. If the cost of dependents is increasing faster than our revenues then the development of the state is imtierilled. See Penrin. nAdre^t .h e. 37 Crop Yields Increased by Phosphorus This fact is well illustrated by the results obtained on the soil experiment field near Bloomington, in McLean county, where phos- phorus has produced increases in crop yields as follows: 5 bushels of com per acre in 1902. 13 bushels of com per acre in 1903. 12 bushels of oats per acre in 1904. 10 bushels of wheat per acre in 1905. 1.1 tons of clover per acre in 1906. 19 bushels of com per acre in 1907. 16 bushels of com per acre in 1908. As an average for the seven years, the value of the increase pro- duced by phosphorus is double the cost of the phosphorus applied even in steamed bone meal, and more than five times what the same amount of phosphorus would cost in fine-ground natural rock phos- phate. Of greater importance to the State, however, is the fact that a system has been developed whereby the land treated with phosphorus and crop residues is growing richer even without the use of farm ma- nure and in spite of the larger crops removed, while the untreated land becomes gradually poorer year by year, although it is still productive land, having been under cultivation only about sixty years. On more recently established experiment fields, the 1908 com crop was increased 9 bushels per acre by rock phosphate, as ap. average of 32 independent tests on the most common soil in six different counties. The Experiment Station discovered the general absence from Illi- nois farm soils of the alfalfa bacteria without which this greatest of all forage crops cannot be successfully grown. It also discovered that the bacteria of the common rank-growing sweet clover could be used for alfalfa inoculation. By means of this method of soil inoculation introduced and advocated by the Station, alfalfa is being rapidly brought into Illinois agriculture. This crop with its wonderful power to secure nitrogen from the air has a greater money value per acre than any other crop grown in the state. When properly treated most Illi- nois lands can be made to produce four to six tons of alfalfa hay per acre, which is practically as rich in protein as wheat bran, ton for ton. At $12 a ton this crop is worth twice as much per acre as 60 to 80 bushels of com, at the 10-year average price. There is plenty of positive knowledge that in many instances farmers are beginning to use these methods of soil and crop improve- Alfalfa, the child of the sun — our greatest forage crop. 38 ment, where the Experiment Station can furnish the necessary in- formation to serve as a definite guide to successful practice. More general use will follow a more wide-spread dissemination. The methods of soil treatment advised by the Illinois Experiment Station look always toward permanent improvement, and the use of soil stimulants is discouraged. As a rule the Illinois Experiment Station methods include the use of large amounts of natural materials, rather than small amounts of high-priced artificial fertilizers. Thus, Illinois farmers are already using larger amounts of grotmd natural lime- stone and ground natural rock phosphate than all other states combined, and the first carload of these materials ever applied in Illinois were used on the Experiment Station fields. The use of the so-called "complete " commercial fertilizer is not now and never has been ad- vised by this Station ; and, furthermore, these expensive fertilizers are not used to any extent in this state. That the progressive farmers of Illinois are intelligent regarding this teaching of the Experiment Station is well illustrated by the fact that only about 40 different brands of "complete " fertilizers of the patent medicine type are kept on sale in Illinois, while more than 800 different brands are sold in Indiana, and the last report from Georgia (where the 10-year average yield of com is now less than 1 1 bushels per acre) showed 1822 different brands of fertilizers on sale in that state. None of theih contain more than three valuable elements of plant food, one of which (nitrogen) Illinois farmers are taught to secure from the inexhaustible supply of the air by means of legume crops ; while a second (potassium) is con- tained in many of our normal soils in practically inexhaustible amoimts, the absolute invoice (soil analysis) showing more than $3000 worth of this element per acre in the first 12 inches of some common Illinois soils, based upon commercial prices for potassium. In such cases it is folly to let farmers be led to waste their efforts by buying potassium. The Illinois Station method is to liberate this element from the soil, where present in such immense abundance, and to purchase for appli- cation to the land only such materials as are positively necessary for permanent soil improvement. Large and sure results upon the farm are now more than ever de- pendent upon the training given by the College of Agriculture. 39 The Illinois method supplies plant food not for one crop only, but for the entire rotation of crops, and one of the primary purposes of the systems advocated is to leave the soil richer at the end than at the beginning of the rotation. By the publication of colored maps showing all soil types, to- gether with the analysis of the soils and the results of carefully con- ducted experiments with practical methods of soil improvement, just such usable information can very easily be secured and furnished to farmers and landowners, concerning every ten acres of land in the state. A party of four trained men can survey the soils of two counties, as an average, during the field season (April 1 to December 1), and four such parties should be kept at work until the detail soil survey of Illinois is completed. These same men can help to disseminate in- formation by work in farmers' institutes, ' farmers' clubs, and other farmers' meetings in cotintry school houses, etc., during the winter months; and this campaign of dissemination should not be lessened, but made even more active, until the adoption of permanent systems becomes the general rule for Illinois lands. At least six skilled analysts will be required to keep up with the survey work, in order to analyze a sufficient number of representative samples of the soils surveyed, to make an acctu-ate invoice of all Illi- nois lands, to ascertain what elements are present in abundance or in inexhaustible amount and what essential elements of plant food are present in such small amounts as to limit the yield of crops, either im- mediately or ultimately. Seven field assistants will be required to superintend the work on fifty soil experiment fields (they will do most of the field work them- selves where the greatest care and accuracy are required), in order to discover and to demonstrate in different parts of the state how plant food can best be liberated from the soil, secured from the air, or applied if necessary; how the texture of the soil can be modified and surface erosion prevented, and whether tile drainage can be profitably em- ployed ii;i one-third of the state where it is not now used. During the past seven years, some needed methods of soil analysis have been developed or improved, practical systems of field experi- ments have been found, and methods of soil surveying with satisfac- " Dollar for Dollar " — One invested for development against every one expended in the care of non-producing dependents. 40 tory systems of classification and separation of soil types have been worked out. These have been used in the detail soil surveys of twenty- eight counties, and they will serve in extending the permanent detail survey over the entire state. The following publications have already been issued under the provisions of this section : July, 1902, Bulletin No. 76 : Alfalfa on Illinois Soils. (Twice reprinted.) February, 1903, Circular No. 64: Investigation of Illinois Soils. (Out of print.) April, 1903, Circular No. 68: Methods of Maintaining the Productive Capacity of Illinois Soils. (Reprinted; now out of print.) May, 1903, Circular No. 70; Infected Alfalfa Soil. June, 1903, Bulletin No. 86; Climate of Illinois. August, 1903, Bulletin No. 88; Soil Treatment for Wheat in Roiation,ivith Special Reference to Southern Illinois Soils. (Out of print.) November, 1903, Circular No. 7 2 ; Present Status^of Soil Investigation. (Reprinted ; now out of print.) January, 1904, Bulletin No. 93; Soil Treatment for Peaty Swamp Lands, Includ- ing Reference to Sand and Alkali Soils. (Out of print.) February, 1904, Bulletin No. 94; Nitrogen Bacteria and Legumes. (Reprinted.) October, 1904, Circular No. 82 ; The Physical Im.provem.ent of Soils. (Reprinted.) February, 1905, Circular No. ?i6;Science and Sense in the Inoculation of Legumes. March, 1905, Circular No. 87; Factors in Crop Production with Special Reference to Permanent Agriculture in Illinois. (Out of print.) March, 1905, Bulletin No. 99 ; Soil Improvement for the Lower Illinois Glaciation. July, 1905, Circular No. 96: Soil Improvement for the Illinois Corn Belt. (Re- printed.) August, 1905, Circular No. 97; Soil Treatment for Wheat on the Poorer Lands of the Illinois Wheat Belt. October, 1905, Circular No. 99; The "Gist" of Four Years' Soil Investigation in the Illinois Wheat Belt. (Out of print.) October, 1905, Circular No. 100; The "Gist " of Four Years' Soil Investigation in the Illinois Corn Belt. November, 1906, Circular No. 105 ; The Duty of Chemistry to Agriculture. February, 1907, Circular No. 108; Illinois Soils in Relation to Systems of Perma- nent Agriculture. April, 1907, Bulletin No. 115 ; Soil Improvement for the Worn Hill Lands of Illi- nois. April, 1907, Circular No. 109 ; Improvement of Upland Timber Soils of Illinois. April, 1907, Circular No. 110; Ground Limestone for Acid Soils. February, 1908, Bulletin No. 123; The Fertility in Illinois Soils. February, 1908, Circular No. 116; Phosphorus and Humus in Relation to Illinois Soils. May, 1908, Bulletin No. 125; Thirty Years of Crop Rotation on the Common Prairie Soil of Illinois. May, 1908, Circular No. 119; Washing of Soils and Methods of Prevention. September, 1908, Circular No. 122; Seven Years' Soil Investigation in Southern Illinois. November, 1908, Circular No. 123; Status of Soil Fertility Investigations. November, 1908, Circular No. 124; Chemical Primiples of Soil Fertility. These publications vary in size from 4-page leaflets to larger bulletins, and in number from a few hundred to fifty thousand. Some are sent only into local sections for special application and others to the entire mailing list, now amounting to nearly 50,000. In many cases a second edition has been necessary and some bulletins have been Twenty thousand personal letters have been written in answer to questions about soils and crops since 1901. 41 reprinted for a third time in order to supply the demand for it. Sev- eral have been reprinted by other states. Many of them are now out of print. These publications have in the main been general in character, and they have been comparatively inexpensive so far as mere printing is con- cerned; whereas the publication of the results of the detail soil survey, with accurate colored soil maps and much local information and data con- cerning the exact character of practically every acre in each county, will necessarily require more substantial appropriations. Aside from these listed publications and numerous articles fur- nished to the press of the state, the information secured, showing clearly the possibility of marked improvement in Illinois soils and crops, has been widely disseminated in several other ways. As an average about 200 lectures are given each year by men en- gaged in soil and crop investigations, to farmers' institutes, farmers' clubs, and other agricultural organizations, and not infrequently to teachers' meetings, and to Chambers of Commerce or other organiza- tions of business men, many of whom are landowners and responsible for the improvement or depletion of the land under their control. Seven "Seed and Soil " special trains have been run over Illinois railroads, since these investigations began, from 100 to 200 lectures, as an average, having been given in each train, by the Experiment Station men engaged in the investigation of Illinois soils and crops. These lecture trips have covered practically the entire Illinois lines of the Burlington, the Illinois Central, the Wabash, the Alton, the Cin- cinnati, Hamilton and Dayton, and the Chicago & Eastern Illinois. These special trains (usually consisting of two large audience coaches, and two additional cars for sleeping, dining, and baggage) have always been furnished by the railroad companies, the Agricul- tural College and Experiment Station having furnished only the lecturers. The Burlington officials have already run a second "Seed and Soil " special over their Illinois lines, and other railroads have signified a similar intention, in order to help on the dissemination of the scientific information which must be applied to the practice of agriculture if the productive power of Illinois lands is to be preserved. Since the beginning of these investigations more than twenty thousand personal letters have been written by Experiment Station men in answer "We are engaged in the most stupendous educational, social and economic experiment the world has ever undertaken — -the experiment of universal education." 42 to direct inquiries from Illinois farmers and landowners concerning soils and crops. The accumulation of definite iaformation for all parts of the state and the rate of publication are solely a matter of funds. During the past two years we have lost four of our best trained men (trained by this Station), because they were offered elsewhere much larger re- muneration than IlUnois could offer, although their service was certainly worth more to Illinois than to any other state. These men are: Professor Clifford Willis and Mr. J. V. Bopp, both taken from the Illinois soil survey by the State College of South Dakota; Professor A. F. Kidder, taken from the Illinois soil survey by the State University of Louisiana; and Mr. C. H. Oathout, taken from superintending Illinois experiment fields and given the management of an 800-acre Illinois farm. They were all produced from Illinois farm boys, and they cannot be replaced except with much loss of time and training. Illinois cannot long afford this. It would seem better business policy to hold our trained and valu- able men to extend the survey over other counties, to push forward the soil analysis, to continue the experiment fields and increase their number, and to publish the county maps and reports, as rapidly as is consistent with careful work, and thus have the facts for use in actual agricultural practice within the next few years. The final cost is about the same however it is done, and the amounts suggested are be- lieved to be in best accord with good policy in this respect, considering both the public needs and the ability of the Station to prosecute work. In this as in other lines of station work, the demand of other states for men trained in this work is exceedingly heavy, a fact which taken together with increased experience makes men more costly. These trained and experienced men are however more valuable and can accomplish more real service for a given amount of outlay. The practical results of the investigation of Illinois soils and crops in increased yields per acre is more fully discussed under the Crop Section, and properly so, because the influence on crop yields up to this time has come more largely from the ready acceptance and adopt- ion of improved seed and better methods of crop culture than from the adoption of permanent systems of soil improvement; altho some farmers have already begun to adopt systems of definite and perma- nent soil improvement, on such soil types as have been covered by the soil investigations. Too often the Experiment Station is still in the dark regarding the character and needs of the soils in different parts of the state, altho much information has been secured concerning some of the most important and most extensive soil types. 43 FOR FARM CROPS INVESTIGATIONS Annual Appropriation Recommended 130,000 The average annual value of the Illinois com crop alone is con- siderably more than one hundred million dollars, and the annual appropriation of $30,000 for the investigation of all of the farm crops of the state is less than thirty cents for each $1,000 worth of com annually produced. To increase the yield of com by one bushel per acre on the nine million acres annually produced in Illinois amounts to $4,000,000. It is of course impossible to determine all the factors that influence the production of the state, but it is of interest to know that since the first appropriation was made by the General Assembly, in 1901, for the investigation of Illinois soils and crops, the yield of com per acre has increased from 31.3 bushels (the average yield for the twelve years 1890 to 1901) to 36.6 bushels (the average yield for the six years 1902 to 1907), according to all of the crop statistics recorded in the Year Book of the United States Department of Agriculture; while according to the same authority the average yield of com in Iowa, the second greatest com state, was 31.0 bushels for the first twelve years, 1890 to 1901, and 32.7 bushels for the last six years (1902 to 1907), indicating that the more recent efforts in that state are beginning to influence agricultural practice. These Government statistics show that the value of the Illinois com crop has been increased as an average by twenty million dollars annually since the state began making provisions for the investigations of Illinois soils and crops. This increase in one year is equal to the total appropriations made by the General Assembly for all State pur- poses for a period of two years. This increase is no more than should be expected from the wide dissemination of the results of the Experiment Station's investigations, which have shown conclusively that such increases can be made by the use of improved seed and better methods of planting and cultivation ; and still greater increases are sure to follow the accumulation and greater dissemination of information concerning systems of permanent soil improvement. Our share of federal appropriation is over four times our total state appropriations: See Peoria address, p. 19. 44 A brief consideration will show that much has already been ac- complished by the Illinois Experiment Station in crop investigations. These investigations have proceeded along two distinctly different lines: first, better methods of cultivation, and second, better seed through improved varieties or selected strains. Better Methods of Cultivation A long series of carefully conducted experiments in com cultiva- tion by this Station, more than ten years ago, was the first to establish the fact that as an average nearly five bushels more com per acre can be produced by shallow cultivation than by the method of deep culti- vation then in vogue, but now, in consequence of the Station's teach- ing, almost entirely replaced by the shallow method. A long continued investigation is now furnishing valuable in- formation relating to thickness of planting (or distance between hills) for different soils, a preliminary report having been already published (See bulletin 126). Another important investigation now in progress concerns the amount of preparation and cultivation necessary for the most economic results under different conditions. Investigations of this character require much time and patience and careful work in order to establish the truth for practical applica- tion, but when once established the results are exceedingly valuable, because in many cases it is no more trouble or expense to the farmer to plant and cultivate right than to plant and cultivate wrong, and in some lines the best method is the least expensive, as in the shallow cultivation of com. It should be noted, too, that a difference of even two bushels in total yield per acre will make a much greater propor- tionate difference in the net profit per acre, and an enormous increase when applied to the com crop of the state. The shrinkage of com in storage has been under investigation for several years and a preliminary report on this subject has also been 'published. (See bulletin 113.) A study of methods of seeding oats with reference both to the oat crop and to the clover seeded with the oats is already yielding some results that promise to be of great value to Illinois agriculture. Thus, under normal conditions of soil preparation, drilled oats have produced an average yield about 4 bushels higher than broadcasted oats, but the data this far obtained are not sufficient to justify definite conclusions. For every dollar of state tax we pay ten dollars local tax. 45 Better Seed A few years ago the Station made a very thorough study of the history of varieties of com, in order to furnish IlHnois fanners with some definite information in this line. It was found that, out of a hundred or more so-called varieties that were known by name in Illi- nois, less than a dozen had been selected for a sufficient length of time to establish fixed varietal characteristics ; and it is safe to say that at the present time, in consequence of this investigation, more than half of the com grown in Illinois is from selected seed belonging to these recognized standard varieties, some of which have an authentic record of more than fifty years' careful selection for yield and quality. Seed improvement by the process of breeding must involve much time and care, and it requires skill and fundamental knowledge; but it is only the well known truth to say that the Illinois Station has led the world in the work of com breeding. Practical methods for improvement in both yield and quality have been discovered and developed by the Experiment Station, and these methods are already being successfully applied in actual practice to the advantage of very many if not most of the com growers of this state, and in other states as well. Bulletin 128, "Ten Generations of Com Breeding " is sufficient to show some of the work that has been accomplished and to suggest the greatest possibilities for further development. Thus, starting with a variety of com of average composition in 1897, it has been possible by selecting and breeding, in ten generations: (1) To increase the protein from 10.92 to 14.26 percent. (2) To decrease the protein from 10.92 to 8.64 percent. (3) To increase the oil from 4.70 to 7.37 percent. (4) To decrease the oil from 4.70 to 2.66 percent. In other words, out of a single variety of corn two strains have been developed of which one is now almost twice as rich in protein as the other, and from the same original variety two other strains have been developed of which one is now nearly three times as rich in oil as the other. Further investigation has revealed the fact that com may be in- jured by in-breeding and methods for preventing this have been worked out. A good revenue system will provide as much for development as is needed for dependents. 46 Investigations relating to the improvement of wheat, oats, and clover, by breeding and selection are now in progress, and careful con- tinuous work extending over several years will develop the possibilities ' of such investigations. The marked results already obtained in the breeding of com certainly justify the belief that these crops can be im- proved in quality and in yielding power, and no doubt also for resist- ance to disease, as smut and rust, for strength of straw, as to reduce lodging of oats, and for resistance of clover to drouth and winter kill- ing. Variety tests of different crops are yearly adding to our knowledge of the varieties of these crops best adapted to the different sections of the state. The following yields of wheat represent the average of a three- year test in each case on ordinary untreated land in Perry county, in the Illinois wheat belt. VARIETY OF WHEAT YIELD PER ACRE THREE-YEAR AVERAGE Harvest King (home-grown seed) IS. 6 bushels Fulcaster (home-grown seed) 13. S " Pultz (home-grown seed) 12.8 Eclipse (home-grown seed) 12.0 " Faltzo Mediterranean (from Western Illinois) 8.5 " Fultz (from Tennessee) 8.7 " Indiana' Swamp (from Northern IlUnois) 8 . S " Jones Longberry (from Indiana) 6.1 " While more complete data are needed and are being secured as the experiments are continued, these results show plainly that there are very marked differences in yielding power, varying from 6.1 bushels to 15.6 bushels as a three-year average, among the varieties tested; and also that, as a rule, it is safer to depend upon well-selected home-grown seed than to bring seed from other states or even from other sections of our own state where the soil or climate may be different. Indeed the varieties of wheat that give the best results in central Illinois have been shown by careful experiment to be by no means the best for southern Illinois. (See bulletin 121.) To care for dependents is charitv hn.t. tltj> mntu^M hritnoT «/> vaUirK 47 What Should be Done, An annual appropriation of $30,000 for crop investigations will make it possible to establish three crop experiment fields in addition to the three already established, and thus to represent in a more satis- factory way the adaptability of various crops and the possibilities of crop improvement under the different climatic conditions found in Illinois. So far as possible crop investigations should also be con- ducted on the soil experiment fields, in order to economize time and money, and to secure widely representative results on fields that will be almost 400 miles apart from north to south. It is impossible to secure trustworthy information for a state like Illinois unless these investigations can be conducted in different parts of the state. The climate of Illinois varies as much as the differ- ence between northern Massachusetts and southern Virginia. The north line of Illinois is farther north than Boston, and Cairo is farther south than Richmond, Virginia, and ISO miles farther south than Covington, Kentucky. Provision is made for $30,000 per annum for the Experiment Station of Rhode Island; but that part of Illinois known as "Egypt " is equal to thirteen states the size of Rhode Island; and the need for positive agricultural knowledge is correspondingly great, as is well indicated by the Government crop, report for November, 1908, which shows that Rhode Island leads all other states in the yield of com per acre, with Connecticut, which supports two Experiment Stations, in the second place ; while Illinois, the greatest com state in acres and in total yield, ranks eighteenth in yield of com per acre. An Example of Results Aside from com, the wheat crop has been given more attention than any other in the Experiment Station investigations in determin- ing the value of crop rotations, soil improvement, best varieties, etc.; and it is of some significance that the average yield of wheat in Illinois for the past six years is 15.6 bushels per acre, compared with 13.3 bushels for the previous twelve years. The value of an average in- crease of 2.3 bushels on the wheat lands of Illinois amotmts to more than four million dollars annually, or to twenty-five million dollars for the last six years. He who makes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before is a public benefactor. 48 Illinois is one of the great wheat producing states, her 1907 crop of more than 40 million bushels being exceeded by only four other states; and, with the further accumulation and application of practical scientific knowledge concerning wheat and wheat lands, Illinois can probably be made the leading wheat state, and still retain her position as the greatest com state. The average yields in Minnesota,the greatest wheat state, were 14.6 bushels for 1890 to 1895, 13 bushels for 1896 to 1901, and 12.8 bushels for the last six years, 1902 to 1907, figures which indicate that the investigations of the Minnesota Experiment Station are beginning to check the very apparent reduction in yield of wheat in that state, a reduction already noted by such men as James J. Hill, whose railroads handle much of the crop. At the oldest Experiment Station in the world, at Rothamsted, England, 34 bushels of wheat per acre have been produced as an aver- age of IS crop rotations covering a period of sixty years. These results have been obtained by means of crop rotation and the use of mineral plant food in connection with smaller amounts of farm manure than can easily be supplied in ordinary farm practice, and without the purchase of commercial nitrogen. The average yield of wheat for the last 24 years on this old Rothamsted field has been 39 bushels per acre, and the average yield for the wheat lands of England is now 32 bushels per acre. There is a constant demand upon the Experiment Station for further information concerning the possibilities and best methods of raising our common crops, and also for other less common crops such as alfalfa and also cow peas, and soy beans (especially important to southern Illinois) , and there is need and much demand for investi- gations in the growing of potatoes, large quantities of which are an- nually shipped into Illinois from other states. Following is a list of the publications already issued imder the provisions of the Crop Section : December, 1902, Bulletin No. 82 ; Methods of Corn Breeding. (Out of print.) February, 1903, Circular No. 66; Corn Experiments in Illinois. (Out of print.) August, 1903, Bulletin No. 87; The Structure of the Corn Kernel and the Com- position of Its Different Parts. (Reprinted.) February, 1904, Circular No. 7 i; Directions for the Breeding of Corn. (Out ofprint.) November, 1904, Bulletin No. 96; The Testing of Corn for Seed. (Reprinted, and again out of print.) March, 190S, Bulletin No. 100; Directions for the Breeding of Corn, Including Methods for the Prevention of In-Breeding. (Reprinted.) March, 190S, Circular No. 89 ; Treatment of Oats for Smut. (Reprinted.) January, 1906, Circular 101; Methods of Testing Variability in Corn. (Out of print. ) March, 1907 , Bulletin No. 1 13 ; The Shrinkage of Ear Corn in Cribs. January, 1908, Bulletin No. 121 ; Variety Tests of Wheat. July, 1908, Bulletin No. 126 ; Distance Between Hills for Corn in the Illinois Corn Belt. September, 1908, Bulletin No. 128; Ten Generations of Corn Breeding. 49 In addition to the publication of bulletins and circulars, infor- mation concerning these crop investigations has been very widely dis- seminated by lectures at farmers' institutes, at farmers' club meetings, and on "Seed and Soil " special trains, by personal letters answering inquiries from farmers and landowners, and by numerous articles furnished to agricultural journals and newspapers, as more fully ex- plained imder the Soil Section. Considering the enormous magnitude of the crop interests of such a state as Illinois, the amount proposed for their study and develop- ment is exceedingly moderate. The Experiment Station correspondence amounts to over ten thousand personal letters a year. so FOR HORTICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS Annual Appropriation Recommended — $40,000 Illinois is preeminently a horticultural state. Climate, soil, nearness to markets and exceptional transportation facilities, coupled with the traditions and inclinations of many of her people, cooperate to make her the horticultural superior of all except two or three states ; and of these she is no mean rival. The chief drawbacks to the industry in recent years have been unseasonable weather conditions, and the lack of sufficient knowledge and forethought in the selection of appropriate varieties and better cultural methods. It has been clearly demonstrated by the Department of Horticulture, that the industry as commonly understood, especially from the standpoint of orcharding, can be vastly improved and put on a sound paying basis. It must be borne in mind that large areas of the state are devoted almost exclusively to some one or more of the horticultural crops. Not only this, but nearly every homestead has its fair share of horticul- tural interests, and this is necessary indeed if our people are to reach the high state of civilization which is desired, and which can only be secured by giving to horticulture the attention necessary for its proper development. In point of rank, Illinois is now third among the states in orchard fruits ; second in number of apple trees ; third in the value of nursery stock; fourth in the acreage of vegetables and small fruits. The an- nual apple crop of the state is estimated at from a half million bar- rels in a bad year to eight million barrels in a year of full production. Studies made by the Department of Horticulture in 1906 and 1907 show that fifty of the largest shipping points in southern Illinois billed out during the season of 1906, 2928 cars of apples, 103S cars of berries, 2406 cars of mixed fruits and vegetables. The average money value of the fruit crop of the state is approximately $8,000,000 and the vegetable crop about the same. This, however, does not take into account the imtold value to the farming people of our country of those products which were consumed at home. Notwithstanding the high place which Illinois holds in the horti- cultural world and notwithstanding the rapid progress made in things horticultural as a direct result of investigations by the Department of SI Horticulture, the progress has been made under adverse conditions such as are known to few, if any, of the other fruit growing regions of the United States. Our people have had their crops ruined repeatedly by frosts, by prolonged drought, and ravaged by insects and other pests. The whole subject of the selection and handling of the plants, their methods of propagation, cultural requirements and protection from enemies are all pressing and live problems with our people. Because of these conditions and because of the magnitude of the in- dustry, the fruit and vegetable growers of our state are asking the 46th General Assembly for sufi&cient funds to meet a few of their needs which can be supplied only by experimentation, demonstrations and pubUcations. The amount asked — $40,000 — is absolutely neces- sary to carry forward the work already in progress and to amplify and extend the experimental work along the lines most insistently de- manding attention. Publications It would be difficult to estimate, and impossible to overestimate, the value of the publications made possible by previous appropria- tion. These, numerous'as they have been, are a mere introduction, however, to what would follow from a continuation of the work al- ready in progress, and that to be taken up, if sufficient appropriations are made. Following is a list of the bulletins and circulars prepared and distributed by the Department of Horticulture since the first small appropriation of 1901. List of Horticultural Bulletins Bulletin 61 — "The Farmer's Vegetable Garden " By John W. Lloyd Bulletin 67 — "Apple Scab " By G. P. Clinton Bulletin 68 — "Important Details of Spraying " By A. V. Stubenrauch Bulletin 70— "Canker of Apple Trees " By H. Hasselbring Bulletin 77— "Bitter Rot of Apples " By T. J. Burrill J. C. Blair Bulletin 81 — "Forcing Tomatoes " By A. C. Beal Bulletin 98 — "The Curculio and the Apple " By C. S. Crandall Bulletin 105 — "The Farmer's Vegetable Garden " By John W. Lloyd Bulletin 106 — "Relative Merits of Liquid and Dust Spray " By C. S. Crandall Bulletin 114— "Spraying for the CodUng Moth " By John W. Lloyd Bulletin 117 — "Bitter Rot of Apples " (Horticultural Investigations) By J. C. Blair Bulletin 118 — "Bitter Rot of Apples " (Botanical Investigations) By T. J. Burrill Bulletin 124 — "Marketing the Muskmelon " By John W. Lloyd 52 List of Horticultural Circulars Circular 37— "Apple Fruit Rots " By J. C. Blair T. J. Bumll Circular 39 — "Directions and Formulas for Spraying " By A. V. Stubenrauch John W. Lloyd Circular 40 — "The Farmer's Fruit Garden " By A. V. Stubenrauch Circular 41 — "Small Fruits for the Northern Half of the State and How to Grow Them " By John W. Lloyd Circular 42 — "Fruit List for Northern Illinois " By W. S. Hotchldss Circular 43— "Field Work with Bitter Rot During 1901 " By A. V. Stubenrauch Circular 44 — "Fruit Storage Experiments " By J. C. Blair Circular 45 — "Vegetables for a Farmer's Garden in Northern Illinois " By John W. Lloyd Circular 46 — "The Farmer's Flower Garden " By A. C. Beal Circular 47— "The Window Garden " By A. C. Beal Circular 58 — "Prevention of Bitter Rot " By T. J. Burrill Circular 67 — "Fruit and Orchard Investigations " By J. C. Blair Circular 107 — "Fruit and Orchard Investigations " By J. C. Blair Circular 112 — "Control of Bitter Rot of Apples " By J. C. Blair Circular 120 — "Spraying Apple Orchards for Insects arid Fungi " By B. S. Pickett Records The records which have accumulated as a direct result of the various lines of work in progress by the department now ntimber some 15,315 pages of closely written material and is distributed as follows Bitter Rot, 1,735; Dust Spray, 600; Curculio, 450; Yellow Leaf, 5,800 Spraying Devices, SO; Storage Notes, 2,000; Fruit Descriptions, 80 Fertilizer Experiments, 1,200; Plant Breeding, 1,400; Vegetable Ex- periments, 2,000. This material, of course, does not include the data yet tinpublished touching many lines of work pursued with other ftmds, nor are the above twenty-eight publications the sum total of our endeavor in this direction. No less than forty-four reports and papers have been given the four horticultural societies of the state at their annual meetings. These are, of course, available to the fruit grower in the Transactions of the Horticultural Society. Skilled Labor Necessary In considering the funds necessary for this work, it should be kept in mind that the horticultural investigator has an especially trying place when pursuing almost any line of research. He is dealing with plants whose environment, to a considerable extent, is beyond his control and no matter how accurate or painstaking his work may be, it may quickly be rendered void by peculiar climatic or other uncon- trollable conditions. One of the most important things touching the work as it proceeds is that the workers charged with the supervision 53 and execution of the details do not become careless or lose enthusiasm in their work or become discouraged. The fact is, experimental work in horticulture cannot be intrusted to the ordinary man or to un- trained or unskilled labor. The work, therefore, is the most expen- sive of experimental work. For example, during the season of 1904, 24,792 apples were examined in connection with the dust spray work; 72,922 in connection with the curculio work; 415,130 in connection with the bitter rot work. These 732,844 specimens were critically examined for at least eight specific things relating to insect and fungous troubles. Such work, to be accurate, needs not only men whose ser- vices are in demand in scientific work, but the services of men who also see things from a practical viewpoint and who are able to adapt themselves to trying and imsatisfactory physical conditions when in the field. It takes physical and mental vitality of a high order to stand the strain imposed upon the individual in many lines of the work . Again, in gathering the data or making the records, it must ever be borne in mind that the work of a single season is rarely conclusive. The experiment must be repeated year after year, for many years, as was the case with the bitter rot work. Even a dozen or fifteen years are often necessary in order to arrive at satisfactory conclusions. Orchard Experiments Twenty-five thousand dollars of the total amount above re- ferred to should he used by the department in orchard experiments, in demonstration work, and for publications. This is an increase of $10,000 over what has been spent heretofore for such work and would enable us to take up some of the following problems. 1. Fertilizer, drainage, cultivation and cover crop investigations, separate- ly and in combination. 2. The relation of pruning to fruit production. 3. Thinning of fruits and its relation to quantity and quality of 3^eld. 4. The yellow leaf and brown spotting of foliage. 5. Experiments touching the more complete control of Apple Scab. 6. Extension of cold storage investigations. 7. A study of the present status of spraying in commercial orchards, and its value in checking or exterminating fungous and insect life. 8. Demonstration work to be carried on in several widely separated locali- ties for the purpose of giving concrete illustrations of what can be done by improved orchard methods. 9. Studies relative to the picking, packing and marketing of fruits. 54 Does It Pay? In considering the small increase which is being asked for in the interest of the orchard work, the question naturally arises — Does such work pay? The only answer to this question is, Yes! In support of this we wish to call attention, at this point, to the fact that in 1900, the bitter rot of apples lost to our Illinois growers $1,500,000, and that with the information which has been gained by the Departments of Horticulture and Botany this serious disease can now be held in check. In 1898 the apple scab "ftmgus lost to our growers $3,500,000 and with the information which we have now secured this disease can be largely controlled. At a recent meeting of the State Horticultural Society, it was said that the results of the fertilizer work carried on by the department in Clay County were worth to the state the total annual cost of all the state institutions. Each piece of work taken up by the department has proven to be of more or less value to the state. We will now consider, briefly, the various lines of work which have been in progress by the department since the inauguration of our state work in 1901. The results of these various experiments furnish additional evidence to support the truth of our answer to the question above referred to. Fruit Storage — The first two lines of investigation taken up by the department as a result of special state appropriation were certain phases of fruit storage experiments and the bitter rot investigations. With regard to the former, it will be recalled that the object of the work was in part to determine whether or not the commercial grower of apples in the apple regions of the state could afford to construct a cold storage house depending entirely upon ice or natural temperature for cooliag the same and also to determine the exact kind of construc- tion best suited to the purpose. This latter included a consideration of different insulating materials. Much of this work has been reported upon in the publications referred to, but especially in Circulars 44, 67 and 107. It is only necessary here to repeat that the results were highly satisfactory and proved beyond doubt that fruit can be profit- ably stored in cheaply constructed storage houses depending upon ice for refrigeration. It is hoped that this entire matter can be brought together in a comprehensive way in one volume easily accessible to our people. Bitter Rot — With regard to bitter rot investigations, a brief state- ment only is necessary. This work was commenced in 1901 and con- ss tinued vigorously both by the Department of Horticulture and the Department of Botany for sik consecutive years. The results of this work from both standpoints have been reported upon in Circulars 37, 43, 58, 67, 107 and 112 and also in Bulletins 77, 117 and 118. The results of this work are to the effect that bitter rot can be controlled in very large measure by Bordeaux sprays. Experiments were carried on in some eighteen different orchards in widely separated localities — more than a dozen department assistants being connected with the investigation. This piece of work has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Curculio — The next line of research to receive attention was that touching the plum crurculio. This work was started in 1903 at Barry, and the following year in orchards at Griggsville and Olney. The outcome of this work was given in Bulletin 98. This experiment en- tailed an immense amount of labor. In one year alone, 72,922 apples were examined and records made on the number of crescents, nimiber of feeding punctures and number of egg punctures. The results of this investigation show that more than 50% of the injury due to curculio could be prevented by spraying. The chief value of the work, however, lay in showing that from 90 to 97% of the crop of insects was in the grotmd during the 30 days following the tenth of July. This fact establishes quite definitely — at least for the western part of the state — the correct time for cultivation. Ninety percent, of the^ in- sects was found within two inches of the surface, thus showing that superficial cultivation, such as is accomplished by the disk harrow or even a smoothing harrow is all that is necessary. The work, too, forced home the importance of destroying all fallen fruit. The larva, even within the young apple, is most susceptible to injury from light ; hence the great importance of thinning the heads of the trees by pnming. This work is also closed. Codling Moth. — In the spring of 1901, there was started at the University a line of work looking to the more complete control of the codling moth. This work was followed here during four consecutive years and during the year 1906 in a commercial orchard near Quincy. The results of this work are given in Bulletin 1 14 and show that arsen- ical sprays, applied at the proper time and in sufficient quantities, will successfully control a large percentage of the ravages of this insect. Spraying in Bloom — This line of work was in progress by the department during the years 1902 and 1903. A report upon it was 56 made in the Horticultural Society Transactions, Volume 36, page 353. A brief report is also found in Circular 67 of this Station. The re- sults were conclusive in showing that spraying during the blossoming period prevents the setting of fruit in the case of blossoms which have but recently opened when the spray is applied. It kills the stigmas and prevents the germination of pollen. A tree which blossoms full, however, produces several times as many flowers as it should mature fruits; and there is so much difference in the time of opening of the flowers, .even in the same cluster, that spraying once while the tree is in bloom does not seem to prevent the setting of sufficient fruit for a full crop. The first spraying for the codling moth is fully as effective, if not more so, when applied after the petals fall, rather than while the tree is in bloom. This also we. regard as a finished piece of work. Dust Sprays — The relative merits of liquid and dust sprays were tested by the department in 1903, 1904, and 1905. The work was done at Olney, Griggsville and Clay City and was fully reported upon in Bulletin 106. The results of the experiment show conclusively that dust spray is absolutely ineffective as a preventive of injury from prevailing orchard fungi and insect pests. No piece of research work was ever more conclusive than the outcome of these experiments and it has effectually put dust spray out of business in Illinois. We will never again need to take up this subject experimentally. Research methods were never before applied on so large a scale as in the case of the bitter rot, curculio, dust spraying, codling moth and spray- ing in the bloom experiments. The work was painstaking, accurate and conclusive and more than a million specimens of fruit were critically examined for various defects, all of which were recorded. Not only this, but in each case, work was continued for a sufficient length of time to make the results of the work for one year comparable with that of another year. Foliage Injury— The foliage injury work, which is perhaps the most important in many respects of all the different lines of investiga- tion, was commenced in connection with the field work at Clay City and also in the laboratory at the University, during the summer of 1905. This work h^s been continued here and elsewhere in the state during each of the succeeding years. Unfortunately, the immense amount of data which has been accumulated in the course of the work, has not yet been brought together in such a way as to draw definite conclusions yet the following brief statement should be made at this time. S7 It has developed that burning of the foliage was directly caused, under certain conditions, by copper compounds and by Paris-green, and it was shown that carelessness in preparation and application of the compounds was accountable for much of the injury reported, but it was also made clear that when all known precautions had been taken serious burning of leaves sometimes resulted. In some experiments, injury followed the applications almost immediately; in others con- ducted in an exactly similar manner, injury did not develop until from three to six weeks after the applications were made. Some results were contradictory, some were anomalous, unexpected and inexpli- cable. Numerous questions were presented, some purely chemical and some physiological. Answers to these questions are essential to a solution of the problem and they are only answerable through more extended investigation. Determination of causes of yellowing and dropping of leaves pre- sents difficulties greater than those attending the question of burning. Yellowing appears epidemic in character but the attacks are erratic as to time and duration. Some evidence secured indicates close con- nection between browning and yellowing — the yellowing appearing after, and as a supplement to browning. Results obtained in some cases point clearly to spraying as a cause of yellowing, but the occurrence of epidemics of yellowing on trees not sprayed shows that there are other factors to be determined and investigated. The direct influence of rain and dew. upon foliage; the water con- tent of the soil;' atmospheric conditions other than as regards mois- ture; disturbance of the physiological functions of trees through mechanical injuries are all regarded as factors needing further study than has yet been given them. Regarding spray materials some of the problems presented are : 1. What are the compounds formed in the making of Bordeaux mixture under ordinary orchard practice? 2. Do changes occur in the Bordeaux compounds after deposition upon the ' leaves? If so. what are the changes? What are the causes operating to produce them? When do they begin and how rapidly do they pro- ceed ? Can relation be traced between the changes that may occur and the observed injury? 3. What chemical changes may accompany the combination of copper compounds with various insecticides? 4. What effect has the use of an excess of lime in making Bordeaux upon the changes that may follow applications? 5. What are the effects resulting from the accumulation of copper salts in the soil under sprayed trees? 6. Can copper salts be absorbed by roots in quantity sufficient to effect injury to foliage? 7. Can spray materials deposited on trunk and branches be absorbed to ap extent injurious to foliage? 58 Answers to these questions are essential to solution of the original problem; these problems are purely chemical. That chemical work was demanded became apparent in conduct- ing the field and laboratory work of 1905, and it was proposed to begin on that phase the following year. It was not, however, until the season of 1906 was well advanced that arrangements for beginning the work could be completed. Investigations designed to answer some of the chemical questions were commenced on July 21, 1906. The field work in spraying and in collecting rain drip from sprayed trees was continued until October 13, and analytical work on the material collected continued through the winter. The results obtained were valuable and helpful, and they also served to emphasize the need of more extended investigation. New problems grew out of the work and some changes in methods were suggested. Digesting the work of 1906 led to the outlining of a rather elab- orate plan of work for the next year. In 1906, drip waters were collected from S trees; in 1907, 28 trees were used. This meant a very large amount of detail work in the field and the accumulation of a great number of samples for each of which determinations for copper, lime and arsenic must be made. The amount of chemical work proposed necessitated better facili- ties and it was essential that the department have its own laboratory. Accordingly, this laboratory was equipped. Work was commenced early in June, following the plan as previously outlined, but of necessi- ty omitting some features because the plan involved more than could be accomplished in one season. The season was marked by frequent rains and the care of the rain drip and spray waters has taxed the facilities of the department both in the field and in the laboratory. Over 600 lots of water were condensed and stored for analysis. Add to these an equal number of solid residues filtered from the waters and a like number of lots of fallen leaves and we have a total of over 1800 samples for quantitative determination of copper both soluble and insoluble lime and arsenic. To give an idea of the amount of work still to be done, we may say that every copper determination requires about forty -five min- utes, every carbon dioxide determination between two and two and one-half hours, and arsenic determinations about three hours for each one. 59 It is expected that the results of the analysis when completed and correlated with the field notes, will definitely solve some of the prob- lems undertaken, but it is evident that still further work will be neces- sary before the experiments can be regarded as complete. Investigations at the present time going on in the laboratory in addition to the leaf injury problem are : A study of lime to determiae the loss of alkalinity upon standing after slaking. A study of leaves picked from trees treated with arsenic and cop- per solutions by means of injections. A study of Bordeaux mixture made from different waters and at different times. No phase of the horticultural experiments is so important^and far reaching in its nature as that secured from our chemical laboratory. The equipment of this laboratory, however, must be greatly improved and it is also imperative that there be established without further delay a physiological laboratory where the many physiological and pathological questions relating to horticulture in its different branches may be given that attention which their importance to the industry in the state demands. Fertilizer and Drainage — The fertilizer and drainage experiments undertaken in 1902, in an orchard near Flora, Clay County, in co- operation with the owners, were taken under the entire charge of the Department in 1904, and in 190S were considerably extended to ad- mit the testing of a larger number of combinations of fertilizers. The plats now included in the experiments number twenty-one and em- brace an area of about fourteen acres. The one acre tile-drained in 1902 shows an improved condition of soil, in that it can be worked earlier in spring and with less delay after heavy rains, than can the rest of the orchard, but it has not yet been shown that tiling has re- sulted in any improvement in fruit production. After three seasons of crop failure, due in each case to tmfavor- able weather conditions in spring, or during the blooming period, the plats yielded a heavy crop in 1906. The plat trees responded to the treatment given and bore heavily, while the balance of the orchard, which has received no attention, produced almost no fruit that was worth harvesting. From the fourteen acres cared for by the Station, there were packed 868 barrels of high grade fruit; from the balance of the eighty acres, there were packed but 51 barrels and these with fruit of poor quality. 60 There was a strong contrast between the plats and the rest of the orchard in foHage as in fruit. The plat trees retained the foliage in healthy working condition until killed by hard frosts in November, while all other trees lost the leaves early in September. This differ- ence in foliage was also apparent in the year preceding and, without doubt, influenced the crop conditions this season, because early loss of foliage does not permit the full development of buds, nor the storage of that surplus of reserve material upon which depends the vigor of growth in spring. While the contrast between treated and untreated trees was strong, differences between pla,ts were not so plainly marked as to be readily apparent. Detailed record of the number and weight of fruits produced shows some differences between the different plats, but, except for the check plats, these differences are not such as would be apparent on casual examination. All plats had healthy, dark green foliage, because all were sprayed alike. This was essential to protect from the ravages of insects and diseases. Two plats, one to which fertilizer was applied and one that received no fertilizer, were left without cultivation; all the others were given clean cultivation throughout the season. Cultivation is an essential accompaniment of the application of fertilizers, because undisturbed soil producing a crop of weeds, is not in condition to receive benefit from the fertili- izers applied. It will be understood that the problem in hand is complex. The factor of fertilizers can not be considered apart from the factor of cultivation, and the factor of spraying; these must be considered to- gether, and, as the influence of each is in great degree governed by the prevailing weather conditions of the season, it is apparent that the records of several seasons will be necessary in order to accurately apportion the causes of benefit derived, among the factors involved. Processes designed to affect the growth and nutrition of trees, need careful study in order to form correct judgment of the factors involved and what it seems possible to accomplish by the proposed procedure. Any specific treatment ought to be applied in a variety of ways, singly and in combination with other processes. Applica- tion of a given process is, however, only the beginning of the work, and will lead to no definite good unless careful watch is maintained over those minute changes which, when aggregated, constitute the final result. 61 Correct interpretations of results are only possible through inti- mate knowledge of all the changes that have led up to them. Pro- cesses involving soil treatment approach the tree indirectly ; there may be long periods between application and the appearance of definite efEects, and it may be difficult or impossible to establish direct con- nection — the connection of cause and effect — ^between the operation performed and the results obtained. The nutritive processes that take place within the plant are imperfectly understood, and the same may be said of the mutations that occur in the soil. These changes, which may be working to the advantage of the plant or to its ultimate detriment are hidden from sight and can not well be approached directly; they are complicated; partly chemical, partly physical, and partly biological. It is therefore a difi&cult matter to influence these soil and plant changes in a manner that will make possible a correct estimation of the relative value of the different factors involved or the part each factor plays in producing the results. Orchard experiments to be of permanent value must be planned upon a basis sufficiently comprehensive to include all factors having direct bearing upon the subject in hand. They must be executed with skill and conscientious attention to small details ; there must be no undue haste, or jumping at conclusions from ill-digested results, but a patient, persistent effort to grasp facts and so correlate them that they form a firm foundation for conclusions that will prove their worth and correctness by their endurance. The policy of the depart- ment is to concentrate its efforts on a few well chosen problems and to close these up before passing on to others. The public demand, however, is so great, that we are compelled to increase our force and our working power. This takes money — hence the request for increased appropriations. Demonstration — Perhaps there is no greater problem confronting the Department of Horticulture than that of getting Illinois' orchard- ists to practice the best known methods of caring for their plantations. The American farmer is one who believes things that he sees and is very apt to reject evidence pertaining to his business that comes to him second handed. This last assertion is undoubtedly true tmtil the farmer has seen some demonstration where decided results have been secured; through such a demonstration he may be stimulated to utilize other methods that the Experiment Stations are proving of 62 great value to his business. Therefore, one of the first means of reach- ing and helping the fruit growers of the state is to demonstrate the usefulness of spraying, pruning and cultivating their trees. Wherever spraying experiments have been conducted the most valuable results have been secured in the immediate neighborhood of the orchard in which the tests were made. Orchardists who had regarded spraying as a practice of no value have had their minds completely changed and have been stimulated, by their observation of the experiments, to spray their own trees the following year. Still other men, who had practiced spraying to a limited extent before, have been led to im- prove their methods through the influence of these experiments. The improvement thus made by both classes of orchard men would never have been secured without this demonstration work. The method of conducting detailed experiments and at the same time trying to use the results as demonstration work is confined within certain limits which necessarily sacrifices the value of such work from one or the other standpoint. In other words, the conducting of detailed tests makes it essential that the work be kept comparatively isolated, while in demonstration work the orchard cannot be too much exposed to public inspection for the best results of such work. Two main reasons make it important that an isolated orchard be used for experiments where exact results are the objects in view. First, visitors coming into the orchard do not appreciate the value of individual specimens of apples in such experiments, and thus, tmless accompanied by a Station representative, these people are likely to destroy fruit and thereby interfere greatly with the records which are the essential elements of such work. Second, the man in charge of detailed experiments usually has his time so exclusively occupied with his workthat he cannot afford the necessary time for advertising the experiments, and also to entertain visitors when they come into the orchard. It will be seen that under these conditions the two lines of work cannot be undertaken jointly in a satisfactory manner, but that there should be a separation. To accomplish the best results, demonstration work should be undertaken in an easily accessible place, due time should be given to advertising the work, and fre- quent gatherings of fruit growers should be held in the orchard where the different methods of spraying, pruning and cultivating pursued could be explained. In this manner, the known facts pertaining to improved methods of fruit growing could be given the orchardists of a community so that their operations might be so conducted that their unprofitable trees could be made profitable. 63 The proper development of this kind of work demands that several places should be selected in counties where orchards are plentiful and competent men should be put in charge of the work. The main business of such men would be the supervision of the de- tails and to interest the farmers by mingling with them and explaining why certain results had been secured. The explanation of the re- sults could be emphatically enforced when the object lesson was at hand and this would lead the orchard men to see the proper methods to be followed by which their trees could be made productive. Thus, the Department of Horticulture could render the orchardists of Illi- nois direct and much needed help and furthermore would make them better able to utilize future experiments. This demonstration work is, therefore, one of the most urgent problems to be met in the near future. Vegetable Experiments Seven thousand dollars of the total amount recommended for horticultural investigation and research should be used by the de- partment in vegetable experiments. Referring to the 12th Census Report (1900) we find that the total value of vegetables other than potatoes produced in Illinois in 1899, was 15,608,000. This amount has nearly doubled since that time, imtil today we find every cotinty having large vegetable interests, while certain counties produce enormous quantities of these products. Among the counties of the United States, Cook County, Illinois, ranks first in acreage of cucum- bers, third in acreage of cabbage, third in acreage of onions, fourth in acreage of lettuce, fourth in acreage of celery, and fourth in the pro- duction of radishes. Union County has a larger acreage of rhubarb than any other cotmty in the United States, while Iroquois county ranks third in the acreage of sweet com. Illinois ranks second among the states in the production of sweet com, and third in squashes. There are three distinct types of commercial vegetable growing, all of which are well represented in Illinois. They are (1) the growing of a general assortment of vegetables for local market, (2) the growing of one or a few special crops, mainly for shipment to distant markets, and (3) the growing of vegetables for canning or pickling factories. Each type is more or less distinct and should be given careful attention by our department. In this connection all important commercial vegetable regions of the state should be visited, and personal relations established between the Department and the leading growers of each region. Details of the present methods practiced by growers of all the different crops in the various parts of the state should be learned by personal interview and visitation. Travel in other states, where 64 the growing of particular crops has been especially developed, should supplement the work in our own state, to the end that present prac- tices in reference to vegetable gardening may be fully known. This will pave the way for investigations regarding the relative merits of various cultural methods and the determination of the conditions essential to the best development of each crop, in point of earliness, yield and quality. The cultural requirements, then, for each vegetable crop should be determined by a study of present methods and by carefully con- ducted experiments in various parts of the state. This study should include a determination of the relative influence of the various factors, such as type of soil, kind and amount of plant food, temperature, sun- light, moisture, tillage, distance of planting, variety, etc., upon the yield and quality of each kind of vegetable. Of course it should be understood that the vegetable interests at the Experiment Station have been by no means neglected in the past. Experiments were started in a small way some eight or nine years ago, and the firstjdirect result of the work was Bulletin 61 on "The Farmer's Vegetable Garden." It was the department's real start on the road to better things in Olericulture. The work was continued, and in 1906, Bulletin 105, on the same subject, was issued. This gives the results of five year's work and is the final report on this investigation. During the past four years, the melon and tomato interests — especially at Anna, Cobden and Kinmundy — have been receiving their share of attention at the hands of department representatives. The culmination of one phase of the melon work appears in Bulletin 124 — "Marketing the Muskmelon." This bulletin is of real value not only to the growers themselves, but to all classes of people who buy musk- melons on the market. It treats of the market requirements as to type of melon and package, and gives details of handling the crop, including picking, grading and packing. It also contains valuable suggestions regarding the selling of the crop. The tomato experiments — especially with reference to fertilizer requirements, protection from rust by spray, effects of pruning upon earliness and yield, and different methods of growing and handling the plants — have already given valuable results, but this work must not only be continued but extended to other regions if results of the widest application are to be secured. Some preliminary work has been done in reference to certain problems regarding the culture of onions, head lettuce and celery. This work should be extended, and a thorough study made regarding 65 the cultural requirements of these important crops. Other crops also should be studied in a similar manner. In addition to a continuation of the lines of work already started, one of the most important general problems demanding attention, is the whole subject of fungous and bacterial diseases of vegetable crops, especially those diseases menacing the interests of market gardeners practicing intensive methods of culture in the vicinity of large cities. A certain disease of cucumbers, which has thus far baffled the efforts of both growers and investigators, which has already caused many- extensive planters to cease growing the crop, and which threatens to destroy the pickle industry in certain regions, should be made the subject of careful study by a trained scientist. The black rot and club-root of the cabbage should also receive attention, and practical means devised for their control. Fungous diseases of onions, aspara- gus and other vegetables should be studied -in a Uke manner, with a view to enabUng the grower to successfully combat these diseases, even where crops are grown in restricted areas, and where rotation can- not readily be practiced. The work with plants under glass — such as forcing tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetable crops — ^is of inestimable value from the standpoint of its development in Ilhnois, and there is springing" up a distinct demand for experimental work in this direction. Owing to a lack of funds for the work, nothing has been taken up in recent years looking to the support of this industry. Bulletin 81 — " Forcing Tomatoes" — ^is a good illustration of what might be accomplished along other lines were the funds available for the work. The foUoAiying distinct lines of work, a part of which have already been started, demand careful investigation, if the vegetable interests of the state are to be developed in a manner commensurate with their importance. 1. Investigations regarding the influence of difierent kinds of fertilizers and methods of application of fertilizers, upon the earliness, yield and quality of muskmelons. 2. Investigations regarding the control of melon rust — the dis- ease that has ruined the reputation of the once famous Ahna gem. 3. A study of the tomato wilt — a disease that threatens to des- troy the tomato industry at certain points in Union County. 4. Experiments for the control of the tomato rust. 5. A study of methods of hastening the maturity of the tomato crop, including different methods of growing the plants, the use of various fertiUzers and methods of fertilizing, and various kinds of pruning and training. 66 6. Studies in reference to marketing tomatoes. 7. Experiments in the use of nitrate of soda on foliage and root crops. 8. Studies and experiments in the culture of onions, head lettuce, celery and other vegetables. 9. Investigations regarding the nature of, and remedy for, an undetermined cucumber disease prevalent in Cook County. 10. A comprehensive study of the various fungous and bacterial diseases of vegetable crops, especially those grown under intensive methods near large cities. 11. Investigation of the problems confronting the grower of vegetables under glass. Small Fruits Three thousand dollars of the total sum asked for horticultural investigations should be used by the Department of Horticulture exclusively for small fruit experiments. The small fruit industry in Illinois is a large and growing one and of immense importance to each and every citizen. Absolutely nothing, however, has been done in an experimental way by our state for the improvement and uplifting of the small fruit industry. Work in this direction can not be delayed longer, and the following are some of the problems which the depart- ment proposes to take up as soon as special appropriations become available. 1 . The improvement of existing types by breeding, selection, etc. 2. A series of tests with strawberries to determine the value of "pedigree plants " as compared with ordinary plants. 3. Soil cultivation and fertilizer experiments. 4. A comparison of different methods of mulching strawberries as to the time of application, amount and kind of material, and dis- position in spring. 5. A comparison of different systems of strawberry culture with a view to determining the relative merits and special adaptations of the hill, hedgerow and matted row systems. 6. Cultural requirements of raspberries and other bush fruits. 7. Best methods of handling and marketing. 67 Plant Breeding Five thousand dollars of the total amount recommended for horti- cultural research should be used for plant breeding. This amount is wholly inadequate for the work demanding attention but it will enable the department to make a start, especially in the matter of improving some of oior standard varieties by selection. The attention of the department will be devoted chiefly to the following two general prob- lems. 1. The improvement by selection and by breeding of orchard fruits. 2. The improvement of existing types of small fruits and vege- tables by breeding and by selection. No question in the horticultural world is of greater importance than that of the improvement of our horticultural varieties. One of the first questions that arises is: Can permanent improvement in varie- ties of apples be effected through propagation from selected buds? In order to get at this question accurately, trees must be selected, which in fruit characters and productiveness represent the best de- velopment of the varieties chosen. From these trees, buds must be selected in such a way as to determine the factors which constitute the best buds. Microscopic studies and actual tests of the buds must be made in order to determine the size and the location upon tree and upon the branch of the best buds. The reserve food materials stored in the neighborhood of buds and its correlation with growth, must be critically studied. Indeed, the whole field of selection in its fullest sense must be scientifically studied. Seedling plants must also be raised from the best fruits taken from the best trees or vines. From these must be selected the individuals of promising vigor and appearance to be grown in the plantation until the fnut characters are determined. Hybridizing and crossing of standard varieties must also be resorted to in order to secure combina- tions of the desirable characters of both parents. 68 RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE STATE HORTICUL- TURAL SOCIETY The following set of resolutions was unanimously adopted by the Illinois State Horticultural Society in regular session December 11, 1908, at Urbana, Illinois; Whereas, the Illinois State Horticultural Society, now in regular session assembled, realizes the importance and value of the experi- mental work being conducted by the University of Illinois, and recog- nizes that the experimental work thus far conducted in horticulture — embracing as it does, floriculture, vegetable gardening, fruit culture and nursery management — ^together with kindred work in agricttlture, has been of inestimable value to our state; and Whereas, the appropriations thus far made by our State legisla- ture for experimental work in horticulture have been returned to the people of the State many fold by reason of the solution of problems connected with the care and management of their crops, and Whereas, the appropriations for this work have been much less than those for other lines of industry of much less economic import- ance; and Whereas, the appropriations thus far made for horticultural ex- periments have been inadequate to meet the demands for experimen- tal work in horticulture in its various branches, or to give proper assistance to the development of this great industry ; and Whereas, the progress and development of horticulture in its various branches is vital to the health, happiness, contentment and prosperity of our rural population ; be it Resolved, that the Illinois State Horticultural Society, in con- vention assembled, heartily endorse and commend the experimental work being conducted by the Department of Horticulture of the University of Illinois; and be it further Resolved, that we as a Society, endorse in the fullest measure, the action taken by the Horticultural Advisory Committee in their recommendations in reference to appropriations for experimental work in horticulture. 69 FOR DAIRY INVESTIGATIONS Annual Appropriations Recommended — $51,150.00 To show the importance and magnitude of the dairy industry in Illinois, it is only necessary to state that we have over a million dairy cows and are the third state in the union in number of dairy cows kept. Experiments already completed, show that the profits of dairy farming can be more than doubled, and in this way add their quota to the wealth of our state. Results Accomplished Milk Production. — ^This station has found, by an exact compari- son of cows for a year, that one cow may produce three times as much butter fat as another, from exactly the same feed, in kind and amount. By testing 1200 cows in Illinois dairy herds, the station has found that they produced as follows: Best one-fourth, 312 lbs. B. Pat per year, at 2Sc $78 .00 Second " 241 ' 2Sc 60. 2S Third " 194 25c 48. SO Poorest " 137 " " " 2Sc 34. 2S Granting that the calf, skim milk, and the manure pay for the labor, depreciation of the cow, and interest on the investment, the profit must be the difference between the cost of feed and the value of the butter fat, where milk is made into butter. Since the minimum expense ~of feeding a dairy cow in Illinois at the present time is $40, it is evident that the poorest fourth of the cows are kept at an actual loss, and that it takes practically all of the profit made by the next fourth to make up the loss on the poorest fourth, which means that the lower half of the million cows in Illinois are kept at practically no profit. To realize the tremendous importance of this fact, it must be remembered that the cow is the medium through which the dairyman markets the products of his farm. This being true, these results mean that one-half of all the labor and energy put into preparing the ground, planting, caring for, harvesting and storing the crops, and preparing them for feeding on the dairy farms in the great State of Illinois is done at no profit. A significant thing in all of this is that the same amount of labor and skill bestowed upon cows like the best one-fourth of those in Illinois would return the handsome profit of over $30 each, above market price of feed and labor, and interest on the investment. "Agriculture is the noblest calling of man; dairying its most im- portant feature." 70 Feeding experiments with dairy cows at the University and over the state show that the ration ordinarily fed by dairymen produces from 6% to 30% less milk than is produced by what is found to be a good ration for dairy cows. One lot of cows in the University dairy herd, fed the better ration, not only consumed 12% more feed, but made 30% better use of it than did the other lot fed a poor ration. This department has been of much aid to the dairymen of the state, by sending out men to assist them in instituting the newer and better methods, and to induce them to put advanced ideas into actual practice. Among the things accomplished, are the following : - The testing of individual cows and the improving of herds by disposing of the poorest cows and by the use of pure-bred sires of high quality, and the raising of calves from the high producing dams; feeding dairy cows better and more economically ; improving the con- struction of dairy bams; and in the instituting of better sanitary con- ditions. As a result of this testing individual cows and weeding out the poor ones, feeding a better ration and taking better care of the cows, one dairyman increased the average production of his herd in three years froin 224 lbs. to 326 lbs. of butter fat per cow. This means an average increase of 102 lbs. butter fat. This man was selling his butter at an average price of 32^ cents per pound, or 38 cents per poimd for butter fat, making an increased income per cow of $38.76 annually. This was a profitable herd to begin with, averaging eight pounds of butter fat above the average production of the dairy cows of Illinois. What has been done with this herd, therefore, can be done with every other herd in the State of Illinois, if as intelligently handled. At the market prices for butter fat last year, or 27 cents per pound, this would mean an increased income per cow of $27.54, and for the cows of Illinois over twenty-eight million of dollars. The total dairy asking is less than two-tenths of one percent of this amount. Another farmer, who had been in touch with the extension work of the Department of Dairy Husbandry for several years, was supply- ing milk to a condensing factory. He produced $2,000 worth of milk from 20 cows, or $100 per cow. A neighbor, doing twice the work with 40 cows, sold only $1800 worth of milk, or $40 per cow. The value of this extension work does not, of course, end with the man helped, but others, seeing the financial gain of putting advanced ideas into prac- tice, are finally bound to follow what is to their own advantage. "But the gist of the whole matter is this: that for an easy and economical method of maintaining the fertility of the soil there is nothing equal to the practice of dairy farming." 71 All investigations of the dairy conditions of the state, made by this department for the past ten years, show plainly that the dairy farmers are not receiving the profit they should for the investment of money, time and labor, put upon their farms. To demonstrate the possibilities in milk production per acre of land a twenty acre dairy farm was started at the University for this purpose. A small bam was erected, and efficient cows were purchased for this work. There was produced during the past year on this place S9S2 lbs. of milk and 192 lbs. of butter fat per acre, all of the feed being raised on this land. The amount of money received per acre for this, if sold on the different markets, is shown below: Condensing factories at $1.39 per cwt. milk $82 . 73 per acre. Shipped to Chicago, at $1.S7J per cwt. milk 93 . 64 " " Shipped to Chicago to special distributor, at $1 . 64 per cwt. milk 97.61 " " Sold to creamery, butter fat at 27c per lb. $51 .84 ] Skim milk returned, 4960 lbs. at ISc per \ S9.28 " " ' cwt 7.44 J Made into butter on farm, where man re- ceived an average price of 32Jc per lb. for butter, or 38c for fat; 192 lbs. at 38c 72.96 ] Skim milk returned, 4960 lbs. at ISc per \ 80.40 " cwt 7.44 J This was done by raising com and alfalfa and feeding it to efficient cows in an intelligent manner. It cannot be done on the ration com- monly fed in the dairy region, consisting largelyof timothy hay and dry com stover for roughage, and with the inefficient cows so commonly kept. This is from three to four times as much as the best dairy farmers are producing, and eight to ten times what the average of poor farmers are producing in milk and butter fat per acre. This demon- stration will be of untold value to the dairymen of the state, in making them see the large possibilities in dairy farming, if properly conducted. City Milk Supply. — A careful study has been made of the milk supply of twenty -seven cities in Illinois of over ten thousand inhabi- tants. Eleven hundred samples of milk have been collected in these cities and tested for composition. Nearly all of these samples were also tested for preservatives and sediment. This work has revealed some striking facts. One-fourth of all the samples collected were be- low the standard of 3% butter fat. Of the samples collected in the city of Chicago, 68% contained visible sediment, and 88% of the samples collected in the cities outside of Chicago contained visible sediment. This work has been dropped because of lack of funds, but the facts stated above indicate its importance and the need of its con- tinuance in every city in the state. Many of these cities desire to take up the work of inspection, but need aid and assistance to intelligently inaugurate the work, and this side of the probleih should again be . -1, ,„ „„ „^^ o^„j,„^^^ j,„ j,Q„jj g^g funds are available. 72 Dairy Manufactures. — The success and growth of the creamery industry in any state will depend upon the energy, skill and money that are put into it. Several of our sister states are recognizing this fact, and to-day are putting forth a great deal of energy to develop this important industry. The task of manufacturing butter having a quality equal to the once famous " Elgin " must be our watch word. The constant demand is "Give us the best." The investigational work carried on for the past two years has been very extensive. Only those problems that are practical and of vital importance to the present needs have been studied. These may be summarized as follows: Pasteurization of Hand Separator cream and its relation to the quality of the butter for direct constmiption ; also its relation to the quality of butter in storage. The control of the composition of butter, regardless of locality, season, or other changes. The composition of butter and its relation to quality. The care and handling of cream and its relation to the grade of butter made from it. The actual and necessary mechanical loss of butter fat in creamery operations. Methods of sampling butter for analysis. The sampling and testing of milk and cream. The present method of grading or judging butter. Through the creamery instructor, who is kept constantly in the field, the results obtained from this work have been put into operation in the Illinois creameries. The duty of this instructor is to assist the operators of cream- eries to make a better grade of butter. The benefit obtained from this work can now be seen, and its value to the Dairy Industry can not be estimated in dollars and cents. The Advantage to Illinois Agriculture So far, these facts appeal mostly perhaps to the man who is already a dairy farmer, or one who is interested in that industry. But there is still another phase of the question which ought to interest everyone, and that is the future development of Illinois agriculture. As Professor Vivian says in his recent book on soil fertility, " But the gist of the whole matter is this : That for an easy and economical "The farm feeds the cow, the cow feeds the farm, and they both feed the people." 73 method of maintaining the fertility of the soil there is nothing equal to the practice of dairy farming." If we are to keep up the fertility of our soils for future generations, we must not lose sight of this fact, for there is no other line of general farming which will yield as much profit to the acre as a rightly conducted dairy farm. It cannot be gainsaid that to maintain a permanent agriculture for Illinois, products sold from the farm should be those which bring the highest price and those which contain the least humus and fertility. These conditions are met more completely by dairy products than by any others. This is admitted by every intelligent, fair-minded person, and as a proof of this, it is only necessary to take a glance at some of the countries of Europe. Where, in all the world, are the farmers so intelligent, progressive, self respecting and prosperous as in the coun- tries of Denmark and Holland? In no place on the globe does every other interest give way to the dairy business so exclusively as in these two countries. There is no other kind of agriculture that can pay in- terest on the investment and at the same time keep up the fertility of the soil on land worth from $500 to $1000 per acre, as it is in Den- mark and Holland. Since these are the conditions toward which we are striving for Illinois agriculture, the dairy industry must be given greater prominence; for no other line of farming has done more to place Illinois agriculture where it is today. The dairy operations in the Elgin region have a world-wide reputation. The Northern third and the Southern third of Illinois are es- pecially adapted by nature to milk production, as is indeed the central third, if intelligently managed to that end. This state, because of its location, has particularly good markets for dairy products. If Illi- nois agriculture is to be advanced in the future to the highest possible degree, we must not let other states supply, to their benefit, increasing amoxmts of dairy products that are consumed by the people of our state, as Wisconsin and Indiana are doing at the present time. We must also recognize the fact that conditions are changing. When cattle ran out of doors the most of the time, they were not in- fected with tuberculosis as they are coming to be with the present methods of confining them in bams. Then, the question of a pure milk supply was a simple one, compared to the enormous problem of furnishing the children of a city like Chicago, with safe and pure milk from a large and intensive dairy region. With our changed conditions "Brains must direct, the hands, or life becomes a drudgery." 74] and increasing population, the time is already upon us when we must give a large amount of study and heed to these questions. When the health of a people is menaced, all financial considerations are of small consequence. We see from this that the dairy industry, whether considered from the standpoint of health, financial gain, or permanent agricul- ture, occupies a place of tremendous importance, and should be given consideration second to no other public interest. The following list of bulletins and circulars published by this department shows something of the work that has been accomplished with funds which the state has appropriated for dairy investigation. Bulletins. NO. NAME. 66 Individual differences in the value of dairy cows. 74 Standard milk and cream. 75 Standardization of milk and cream. 84 Dairy conditions and suggestions for their improvement. 85 Records of individual cows on dairy farms. 91 Preventing contamination of milk. 92 City milk supply. 101 Crops for the silo, cost of filling, and effect of silage on the flavor of milk. 102 Construction of silos. 120 Milk supply of Chicago and 26 other cities. CIRCUl-ARS 51 Standard milk and cream. 63 Dairy investigations. 73 The university dairy. 75 Feeding dairy cows. 76 Improvement of dairy herds. 77 Records of individual cows on dairy farms. 78 Clean milk. 84 Records of dairy herds. 90 SampUng milk for composite tests of individual cows. 93 Should dairy cows be confined in stalls? 95 Suggestions for the improvement of dairy bams. 102 Testing individual cows. 103 Story of Rose and Queen. 106 Remarkable differences in dairy cows. 113 Maple Spring Dairy. 114 The problem of the poor cow. lis Why and how to test dairy cows. 118 Cows vs. Cows. "Modern conditions of dairying make intelligence essential." "The science of agriculture makes kings of men." IS What is Needed Next The existing funds are entirely inadequate to carry forward the work of investigation needed in dairy lines. The department has been obliged to discontinue important work in order to meet its most pressing demands. Feeding experiments, investigation of individual efficiency of dairy cows, and even the work of city milk supply have all been entirely given up for the past year and a half because of this. The investigations cannot broaden as they should, into the proper lines, imless a large increase is made over the present funds. Not much benefit can be gained from investigations unless they can be carried forward to completion, and funds are available for their publication. Investigations have been conducted and the results are on hand at the present time for ten bulletins, nine of which cannot be published this year because of lack of funds! More men must be had in the depart- ment if we are to meet the needs, and the present men must be. better paid if we are to hold them. The only way many of these facts can be put into actual practice on the dairy farms of the state is to send men into the field. What is needed now, to properly develop the dairy interests of the state is the most careful investigation along the following lines: The needed amotmts, as estimated by the Dairy Advisory Committee of the Experiment Station, are as follows : Investigation in Economic Milk Production $27 , 000 Investigations in City Milk Supply 9 , 9S0 Investigations in Dairy Manufactures 14 , 200 $S1 , 1 SO Milk Production. — The testing of cows should not only be con- tinued, but a large number of test associations should be formed, that the enormous waste from milking poor cows may be stopped. Feed- ing demonstrations should be conducted in several different places over the state to demonstrate to the farmers the enormous waste in feeding so much timothy hay to dairy cows, and the great value in feeding clover and alfalfa hay in balancing up the ration and reduc- ing the purchased feeds; also demonstrating the great value of feeding com silage, instead of dry com stover. The importance of good breed- ing, and the raising of heifer calves should be demonstrated and preached to them in the most forcible manner possible. They should be shown the importance of housing cows in a proper manner, and the value of light, ventilation and comfort to the dairy cow. "Ruts of habit do not run along the highway of progress." "Skilled artisans in agriculture have a place in the world's greatest professions." 76 There are many intricate problems yet to be solved in the feeding, care and management of dairy herds that means dollars to the dairy- men, and these will require the most careful kind of investigation, which is necessarily expensive. "When, by research, facts are ob- tained that are of practical benefit, it is essential that men be placed in the field to disseminate these truths and assist in putting into actual practice this knowledge, and inaugurating new methods among the dairymen of the state. City Milk Supply. — This work should be vigorously pushed, and the public enlightened as to the economic value of dairy products. One quart of milk contains as much nutriment as three-fourths of a pound of beefsteak, and milk at even ten cents per quart is cheaper than beef. The importance of improving the healthfulness of the milk supply for the children of our cities cannot be overestimated, not only to save life, but for public safety, that we may help to grow more vigorous children, and not a lot of weaklings. What was said in regard to disseminating information under production, applies with equal force here, with the added need of efficient systems of milk inspection. Dairy Manufactures. — ^There is an immense loss aimually to the farmers of the state through the poor quality of butter which is made, both on the farms and in the creameries. Much research is needed on different phases of the question to determine how best to improve the methods of caring for milk and cream and making butter of the best quality. Mucli investigation has already been conducted upon this sub- ject, and material is on hand at the present time for the publication of four bulletins, as soon as the funds are available. The plan of work herein outlined contemplates, in the judgment of the Dairy Advisory Committee, only the most important dairy problems, as shown by experience, together with the publication of truths already found out. The estimates are made on the Station's experience along this line of work. The amounts mentioned are abso- lutely imperative, if good work is to be done without neglecting the rhost important problems. In proportion to the amount of money put into this work will be the return to the State. From the stand- point of economics alone the returns will be many times the amount spent. "A good reader; a good breeder; a good feeder; a good weeder — that's a dairyman." 77 FOR FLORICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS Annual Appropriation Recommended $17,500 According to reliable estimates which have been compiled, we find that more than $20,000,000 are now invested in the floricultural busi- ness in Illinois. More than $4,000,000 of this amount is represented by buildings and a considerable larger amount in land. There are 719 commercial florists in our state receiving from their sales approxi- mately $3,000,000 annually while they expend for labor $700,000 and $30,000 for fertilizers. In addition to the above, there are over 100 retail florists and commission men dependent upon the growers for the stock which they handle. The glass area devoted to floriculture in Illinois is not less than 16,000,000 sq. ft. which covers 12,500,000 sq. ft. of land. Aside from all this, we find there are in the state more than 2,000 farmers and gardeners using glass for the growing of various plants. Indeed, we find that this industry is not a localized one, for nearly .every county has large floricultural interests. The glass area devoted to floriculture in Cook County is not less than 7,000,000 sq. ft. while some of the other counties run as follows DuPage County, 600,000 sq. ft.; Kane County, 200,000 sq. ft. Sangamon County, 200,000 sq. ft.; McLean County, 175,000 sq. ft. WiU County, 125,000 sq. ft. There are but three counties in Illinois without glass area devoted to floriculture according to our last census report, and this doubtless means that at present there are no counties without large floricultural interests. These figures go to show that the floricultural industry is one be- longing to the entire state. Indeed, no other state has so general an interest in this thriving and important industry. There is no doubt, that Illinois ranks second to none in the value of her floricultural out- put. In order to get these products to the people at a price within the reach of all, there are many problems which need to be solved. As soon as this can be done, crops can be raised much cheaper and neces- sarily the prices will be lowered. 78 As an example of one of the causes of high prices, the loss incurred by one firm alone on their cucumber crop may be given. A disease unknown to cucumber growers caused the loss of over $5,000. In other cases, great losses have occured in the various flower crops caused by insects and fungi. Flowers were at one time considered a luxury, but now they are becoming a necessity. They are quite a factor in the uplifting of humanity, and do much for the development of the race. During the past two years work has been carried on in several lines. Investigations for the repression of thrips injuring roses and carnations under glass were begun at Bloomington in October, 1907, and the amount of injury caused by this insect each week was recorded until June IS, 1908. The total number of carnation buds examined was 68,048. A test of six proprietary compounds containing nicotine was made to determine their efficiency for spraying, fumigating, and for the two combined. On roses, badly infested with thrips, five applications of sprays resulted in ridding 80% of the blooms of these tiny insects. On carnations, there was 57.7% injury on the check section, 13 to 18.5% on the different fumigated sections, and 11 to 13% on the sprayed sections. In order to test methods for the control of thrips on cucumbers in greenhouses, experiments were begun at Streator in March, 1908. Hydrocyanic acid gas at a safe strength was of no practical value in killing thrips. It was found that spraying with a very weak solution — \ oz. of a 40% nicotine preparation to one gallon of water — applied early in the day while the thrips were on the upper surface of the leaves, was effective in killing the insects, and if the material was syringed off at once no injury to the leaves resulted. Analyses are also being made to determine the nicotine content of various commercial preparations of tobacco. This was done so as to determine their value as insecticides. At the present time, the greenhouses are devoted to an experiment with carnations testing the value of chemical fertilizers as supple- menting stable manures. This experiment comprises thirty combina- tions of fertilizers and these are repeated with four different varieties of carnations in order to check results. To finish this work, will re- quire at least three years. The results will be of great value as the fertilizer question is one of the greatest importance to the commercial grower. 79 Among the many questions confronting the florist of today, the following are of the "greatest importance. 1. Study of fertilizer requirements of plants other than carna- tions. Although the results of fertilizer experiments with carnations may be of value in the growing of roses, chrysthemums and other plants, separate experiments should be carried on with each as the requirements are not the same. The intensive method of farming under glass requires close attention to the kinds and amounts of ferti- lizer used. 2. A study of the various insect pests troublesome to greenhouse and garden crops and a determination of the best methods for their extermination, should be made. 3. The fungi prevalent in fioricultural work should be studied and methods for their control should be determined. 4. A great many of the flowers raised in the state of IlUnois are shipped great distances not only to neighboring states, but to all parts of the country. There is also much shipping done from small towns to larger centers. Studies should be made for increasing the keeping qualities of the flowers, and the problems of packing and shipping should be investigated. 5. Studies and actual tests should be made in various methods of bench construction. The high price of lumber has led to the use of many other materials for this purpose. 6. The questions arising from the use of refrigeration plants should be thoroughly investigated. This includes the handling of cut flowers in artificially cooled houses and the cold storage of various forms of plants and bulbs to retard their growth. 7. There seems to be a great future for the growing of many of the hardy annuals, perennials and bulbs for both cut flowers and decoration of home grounds if this line were properly developed. This station could carry on many of these lines of investigation and many others if it had the proper facilities, and so save the people thousands of dollars. LIST OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES COLLEGE SECTION. A, p, Gi-but, Pres, ill. Llye Stoek BfeeidSM:!' Associatton, Winchester J. P.;Masori, Pres. 111. Statel'JM'to^^ ' C. A. Rowe, Prts; 111. C«»rn Growers' Association, Jacksonville R. O. Gr^m, Pres. IIJ. State Horticultural Societyj Bloomington Lewls^N. Wiggins, Pres. 111. State Dairymen's Association, Springfield Albert T. Hey*, Pres. 111. State Florists' AsBoeialtloo, Sprl^eld 1 EXPERIMEHT STATlbH SECTIONS .;f,'|j«| STOCK SECTION aJ:,P. Grout, liVincliester Jos. Fulkerson, Jerseyyllle Jacob Zelglir, Clinton John H. Kihciiia, Athens , E. D. Funk, Shirley ^ SOaSECTIOH al^h Allen, Delavan i " iH;,,Abbott,'M,^iiS0jti F. I. Maiani GjiilMm' ; J. P. Mason, telgih W. E.Brddefl, Cutler FARM CROPS SECTIOH C. A. Rowe, Jacksonville J. H. Codlidgfe, Galesburg S., W. Strong, Pontiac L. F. Maxcy, Curran ; HORTICULTURAL SKCIION John F. Jolly, Olney H. A. Aldrich, Neoga W. S. Perrine, Centralla J. Mack Tanner, Chicago Prof, R. O. Graiiam, Bloomington , DAIRY SECTION C. F, Mills, Springfield J. A, Leland, Springfield J. P. Mason, Elgin Joseph W. Newman, Elgin Lewis N. Wiggins, SfH-ingfield FLORISTS* SECTIOI* J. C. Vaughan, 84-863Randolph St., Chicago J. F. Ammann, EdwardsvUle ' F;. J. Heial, Jacksonville C. D. Gallentlne, Morrison W. H. JRudd, Morgan Park r ^