A test of this same extract made with hogs by the Bureau of Animal Industry at the experiment farm at Beltsville, Md., indicated a much higher feeding value.

The results of these two feeding tests appear so encouraging that plans are being made to produce a larger quantity of extract this year from material harvested at the time which appears to be most favorable for both extract and fiber production.

As a result of the work on other materials conducted at Cumberland Mills, Me., it may be stated that broom-corn stalks have been shown to be an immediately available material for paper making. A large assortment of materials has been collected for experimental work during the coming year and a quantity of finished paper has been produced from several classes of crop waste handled both alone and in combination with varying percentages of wood pulp. The practical value of these papers for book purposes has been tested by the use of five kinds in a circular of the bureau series. Considerable additions have been made to the paper-making machinery in Washington.

In connection with the paper project a large number of materials are being examined by Dr. Albert Mann, who is making careful measurements of the fibers of various wild plants and a study of the relative proportions of various classes of tissue in the hope of finding an exceedingly fine fiber which can be used for plating paper made from coarser vegetable fiber, thus decreasing the amount of foreign matter which is now used to give a smooth surface to book papers. These studies have other important objects.

CROP TECHNOLOGY.-Owing to the very limited funds available, it has been impossible to prosecute very actively the various projects under the general head of crop technology, and attention has been chiefly given to one of the miscellaneous projects, the study of plantattacking nematodes. A great variety of material has been sent to this office within the past year for examination, and the investigations indicate that the injurious species of nematodes are very widely distributed and highly injurious, especially in the Southern States.

Studies have been undertaken to determine the normal nematode population of certain classes of soils and of soils the crop history of which is definitely known. By this means it is hoped to learn the effect of certain systems of cropping upon the most common and injurious species. A large number of soil samples from the Arlington Experimental Farm have been examined, and collections are being secured from abroad for comparison with native species.

The constantly increasing importance and widening scope of this work demand a larger expenditure of time and energy each year.

ILLUSTRATION AND PROJECTION. Further improvements and adaptation of projection methods in the measurement of cotton and paper fibers have been worked out, and the value of the solar projector for illustration has been further demonstrated. Improvements have been made in the use of the camera lucida, and a study of screens has resulted in the preparation of an aluminum-covered screen which is considered an improvement for projection work.

STUDIES OF PLANT FIBERS.

In the investigations of plant fibers, in charge of Mr. Lyster H. Dewey, special attention has been given to hemp, flax, sisal, and zapupe, products represented by importations averaging $16,000,000 annually, a large proportion of which could be produced with profit in our own country.

HEMP INVESTIGATIONS.-Experiments in growing hemp on the State farms in Wisconsin, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, have been continued with gratifying results. This hemp has been pronounced superior to any grown in Kentucky in many years. The fertile soil in Wisconsin produces a uniform growth of stalks with a very thin woody shell and consequently a larger percentage of fiber. The stalks in Kentucky are more woody and therefore more difficult to ret properly and much more difficult to break. Since the success of these experiments depends largely upon the development of suitable machinery for preparing hemp fiber, various types of hemp brakes are being tested. There seems to be ample ground for the belief that when this feature of the problem has been solved hemp will prove a valuable addition to crop rotation in Wisconsin. The success attained in the experiments thus far has been sufficiently encouraging to warrant farmers in enlarging the area devoted to this crop.

Experiments with hemp which were undertaken last year at several places in Iowa in connection with the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station have given promise of satisfactory results. Work on the development of improved varieties is being continued with considerable success.

FLAX INVESTIGATIONS.-The continued careful selection by scientific methods of flax plants of superior types grown for the production of fiber under close observation in nursery plats in eastern Michigan has yielded large quantities of valuable material for propagation. A setback has been encountered in the wilt which has attacked a number of the experimental plats during the past summer. While this difficulty is a serious one, it furnishes an opportunity for experiments in the development of wilt-resistant types, a phase of the work which has been undertaken in the hope of obtaining satisfactory results in this direction during the coming season.

Satisfactory results are being obtained in the work under way in Minnesota and adjacent States for the selection of flax plants with a view to the adaptation of improved and uniform varieties grown for seed, special attention being given to the increased production of flaxseed to meet the urgent need for this commodity in the manufacture of linseed oil.

SISAL AND OTHER HARD FIBERS.-Experiments in the cultivation of sisal, henequen, and zapupe near Yauco, P. R., carried on in cooperation with the Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station, have given excellent results in the growth of the plants. In order to avoid the mistake of cutting leaves too soon, thus injuring the plants, it has been decided to postpone harvesting leaves for the first crop of fiber until the coming season, when a larger number will be available. The cooperative experimental plantings of sisal, cabuya blanca from Costa Rica, and two varieties of zapupe from eastern Mexico,

undertaken last year on Sugar Loaf Key, Fla., are being continued with promise of a successful outcome. During the fall of 1910 these experiments sustained considerable damage from hurricanes; nevertheless, a large proportion of the plants withstood the conditions, the growth made by the sisal plants being especially encouraging.

PLANS FOR FUTURE WORK.-In order to obtain the results expected from the experiments now in progress, plans are being made for the continuation of the work along the general lines already under way, as follows:

(1) The extension of cooperative hemp work, encouraging its cultivation over a wider area; (2) the further investigation of hemp machinery with a view to reducing the cost of handling the crop; (3) the breeding of flax of improved fiber and better seed varieties, with special attention to soil and climatic effects; and (4) the further introduction of fiber-producing agaves and other hard-fiber plants through investigation in Mexico of the varieties found to be most promising for cultivation in this country.

TAXONOMIC AND RANGE INVESTIGATIONS.

The taxonomic and range investigations have continued under the direction of Mr. F. V. Coville.

DOMESTICATION OF THE BLUEBERRY.-The results of the experiments on the domestication of the blueberry have been published. The most important point remaining to be determined before blueberry culture could be definitely recommended as an agricultural industry was the return from a blueberry plantation in actual productive operation. Several years would have been required to secure this information experimentally. One of the results of publication, however, was to bring to the knowledge of the department the actual existence of a blueberry plantation near Elkhart, Ind., more than 20 years old. This plantation, which was examined during the past year, was established about 1889 on a piece of sandy bog land containing wild blueberry plants. This bog the owner drained, cleared of brush, and set with wild blueberry plants of bearing age. The plants were procured from large swamps in southern Michigan. They were set in rows at a distance of 8 feet each way and were kept clear of all other growth by shallow cultivation supplemented by hand weeding. The plantation has been very productive and profitable, the net profits this year being a little more than $160 per acre. Exact records for the earlier years are not in existence.

IMPROVEMENT OF FOREST GRAZING AREAS. The experiments in the National Forests in the use of coyote-proof fences for the pasturage of sheep and for lambing inclosures, improvements in the methods of handling sheep so as to utilize the forage in the most effective and least injurious manner, studies of the methods of natural reseeding of destructively overgrazed ranges, and of artificial reseeding are all producing results of great importance in their bearing on the conservation and development of the grazing resources of the National Forests and of other range lands as well.

Taxonomic studies of cultivated and other economic plants are progressing, with special reference to the needs of other branches of

the bureau and of the department. A special study of the American wild plum, which will be useful in all horticultural work on these fruits, is now approaching completion.

Studies in the classification of North American grasses are putting our taxonomic knowledge of this important group of plants on such a basis as to be useful to grazing interests throughout the country.

SEED-TESTING LABORATORIES.

The work of the seed-testing laboratories has been continued as formerly under the immediate charge of Mr. Edgar Brown. Routine seed testing has been carried on as in previous years at the Washington laboratory, as well as at each of the five branch laboratories located in North Carolina, Oregon, Nebraska, Indiana, and Missouri. Each of the laboratories has shown an increase in the number of samples of seed received due to two direct causes, a wider interest in good seed and the passage of seed laws by several States. The Washington laboratory has continued its investigation, studying the distinguishing characters of the seeds of closely allied groups of plants and improving the methods of germination, paying special attention to the hard seeds and methods of treatment to obtain an immediate germination.

The examination of forage-crop seeds to detect the presence of adulterants has continued with the very gratifying result that very few samples of the kinds collected in former years were found to be adulterated. Redtop seed, collected last year for the first time, however, was found badly mixed with timothy.

On June 30, 1911, the Washington laboratory discontinued its connection with the laboratories in North Carolina and Nebraska, as these stations are now in a position to continue the work. During the fiscal year ending in 1912 it is expected that two new branch laboratories will be opened in States where little attention has thus far been paid to the work.

The future work of the laboratory will follow the lines of the past. The Washington laboratory is making no effort to increase the number of routine tests, but is endeavoring to create an interest in seed testing at the State agricultural experiment stations and also to furnish any assistance possible to stations taking up the work. With this end in view all the attention possible is being turned toward the extension of investigation work.

GRAIN STANDARDIZATION.

The grain-standardization investigations, comprising a study of the harvesting, handling, storing, and transporting of grain in so far as these factors have a bearing on milling and feeding values and commercial grades, have been under the immediate supervision of Dr. J. W. T. Duvel. In order to facilitate these investigations, laboratories have been maintained at Chicago, Ill., in charge of Mr. W. P. Carroll; at Decatur, Ill., in charge of Mr. C. A. Russell: at Fargo, N. Dak., in charge of Mr. Clyde H. Bailey; at Kansas City, Mo., in charge of Mr. E. L. Morris; at New Orleans, La., in charge of Mr. L. M. Jeffers; at Baltimore, Md., in charge of Mr. Laurel Duval; with field stations at Columbus, Nebr., and Coffeyville, Kans.

TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE INVESTIGATIONS.-Good progress has been made in determining the changes which took place in grain while in transit or in storage, special attention having been given to the rate and degree of deterioration and to shrinkage as influenced by moisture content, soundness, climatic conditions, etc. The results of three special experimental shipments of four cars each from Baltimore to Chicago and return show that there is an appreciable "natural shrinkage" in corn during transit in cars, the amount of shrinkage depending largely on the quality and condition of the grain and the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere. Similar results were also secured on several 500-bushel lots of shelled corn stored in the hoppers of large elevator scales, the grain in each case being held until it showed distinct signs of going out of condition. Additional storage tests were likewise made with several lots of grain representing different grades, the results almost invariably showing that the rate of deterioration increases as moisture content increases. Special attention was also given to American export corn, five cargoes, representing more than a million bushels, being accompanied to European ports, observations being made during transit, with careful comparisons and analyses, to show the relative condition of the corn at the time of loading and at the time of discharge. Definite temperature records were also secured on two additional cargoes, and samples were taken from numerous miscellaneous cargoes at the time of discharge in European ports. The results of this work show that the condition of the grain at the time of loading and the place of stowage on the ship are the principal factors in determining the degree of deterioration.

GRAIN HANDLING AND MILLING INVESTIGATIONS.-In all of the outside laboratories a large number of samples have been analyzed for the grain trade. Milling work in cooperation with the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station has been continued, and milling tests have been made on a large number of samples relating to different classes, varieties, and commercial grades of wheat as a basis for standard grades; also on samples containing various known quantities of different kinds of damaged kernels and on samples containing known quantities of various kinds of weed seeds, known in grading as dockage," in order to determine the effect of these mixtures on the relative values of the wheat. Considerable work has been done to show the effect on grade and commercial value of farm methods of harvesting and handling grain; the handling and grading of grain in both country and terminal markets have been studied; preliminary investigations have been carried on concerning the drying of corn in commercial driers, and the bleaching of low-grade oats has been investigated and the results of the investigations published. Preliminary work has been done to determine the fundamental causes responsible for the deterioration of commercial grain, the effect of biochemical changes which take place after harvesting and during storage, and the changes in the chemical composition of grain during deterioration.

PLANS FOR FUTURE WORK.-During the ensuing fiscal year work will be carried on along similar lines and will be extended to include the study of the methods of handling and grading wheat in the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California,