THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

The following paragraphs present in very brief outline the scope of the Station's work during the two years covered by this report:

AGRONOMY DEPARTMENT, PROFESSOR SLATE IN CHARGE

The work of this department has covered the following subjects: Tests of varieties and strains of the small cereal grains; tests of field and soy beans, and, in cooperation with the New Haven Station, tests of varieties and strains of corn for grain and silage; seed studies and variety tests of potatoes, corn and soy bean combinations for silage; availability of soil potash, and a project on fertilizer formulae.

time.

Some valuable results will be ready to publish within a short

As a result of the testing of corn varieties for the last five years at both Stations, it has been possible to indicate to farmers in all parts of the state, a number of varieties which, in their particular section, will give satisfactory yields, and it is hoped that growers of certain high-yielding varieties may be encouraged to undertake careful seed growing as a business, to supply our own state, at least, with superior strains of seed corn.

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL DISEASES, DR. RETTGER IN CHARGE

The valuable work of Dr. Rettger on blackhead of turkeys, bacillary white diarrhea of chicks, and contagious abortion of cows, has been done in cooperation with the dairy and poultry departments and is described below in connection with the work of those departments.

DAIRY DEPARTMENT, PROFESSOR WHITE IN CHARGE

The dairy department has engaged in the study of some particulars of calf feeding, especialy regarding the liberal use of ensilage for young calves, and the feeding of milk in various dilutions with water as a substitute for skimmed milk.

The larger part of the work of this department, however, has been devoted to investigations connected with the infectious abortion of cows, which have been carried on jointly with the bacteriologist, Dr. Rettger. The question of the inheritance of the disease has been studied and also the possible spread of infection through the food. Other possible sources of infection are being investigated under strictly controlled conditions, with most promising results. One bulletin has already been issued giving a summary of the work done up to the date of issue, and the material for a further report, chiefly concerning food as a possible carrier of the disease is nearly ready.

This is perhaps the most immediately important work in which the Station is at present engaged, for the disease is the most serious which affects livestock in this state, and causes the largest money losses. The lack of funds sufficient to push the work to a prompt conclusion or to a point where it may yield great and immediate relief to the keepers of Dairy Stock is keenly felt.

POULTRY DEPARTMENT, PROF. KIRKPATRICK IN CHARGE

The Station has had general charge of the two egg-laying contests conducted by the College.

Valuable data regarding feed consumed, eggs produced and individual and flock records have been collected and published by the Station.

The data collected in the last seven years are to be brought together and discussed statistically by arrangement with the Carnegie Institution for experimental evolution.

The studies of pigmentation as correlated with egg production have been carried on in connection with these contests, and have yielded most important practical results, enabling poultrymen to cull from their flocks, without the necessity of trapnesting, those birds which were not paying for their keep, thus greatly reducing expenses.

Normal curves of growth have been determined for White Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds as a guide to experiments in feeding for growth.

The study of the influence of male inheritance on egg production is continued and also the study of blackhead of turkeys.

The experiments on the agency of the male in transmitting bacillary white diarrhea are still in progress, not having yet reached a definite conclusion.

The studies of blackhead in turkeys and of bacillary white diarrhea have been in collaboration with Dr. Rettger.

ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, PROFESSOR LAMSON IN CHARGE

The study of the effect of sub-normal temperatures on chick embryos during incubation has been finished.

The results indicate that the embryos can endure quite considerable changes of temperature during incubation, but that any cooling of the eggs at intervals during this period has no effect on their hatchability.

The life histories of cattle lice, and control measures have been studied and the results are published.

Some study has been given to the toxic effects of rose chafers when eaten by chickens.

In recent months Professor Lamson's work has been on "Control

Measures of the Body Lice of Soldiers" under the direction of the National Research Council.

The members of the Station Staff have rendered invaluable service to the State Council of Defense, chiefly through the committees on Food Production and Conservation, in all matters relating to agricultural production.

It has been felt by all of us that our special work must be neglected or abandoned just as far as was necessary to serve the state and nation in any way within our power in the greatest of all crises.

This Station, like every other public institution, has felt the pressure of the demand for special war service, the scarcity and inefficiency of labor and the curtailment of work made necessary by its greatly increased cost. All these things have seriously interrupted that even course which is so essential for investigation and experiment.

The need and the demand for agricultural investigation, however, was never greater than now. The work of the Extension department is to carry the results of the Station findings to the men on the farms. The Agricultural Colleges depend on these findings for advance in the teaching of both the science and the art of farming. The Station work is, therefore, fundamental to all advance in intelligent agriculture.

The Station has, therefore, felt obliged to ask, and hopes to receive, from the General Assembly a substantial addition to its income.

Respectfully submitted,

E. H. JENKINS,

Director.

CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

EXTENSION SERVICE

BIENNIAL REPORT

1916-1918.

H. J. Baker, Director.

ORGANIZATION-The Connecticut Agricultural College is divided into three divisions,―resident instruction, Experiment Station, and Extension Service. The several departments in the College are charged with teaching resident students, and with conducting experimental work and the extension service.

The Extension Service carries the College, the Experiment Station, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture to those who cannot come to the College, and aids in getting into practice on the farm and in the home practical and useful information which these institutions have made available through many years of investigation and experimental work. Practical farm methods, efficient household methods, and community organization are also constantly being studied by members of the Extension staff, for the purpose of application to homes and communities, which constitutes one of the most helpful phases of Extension work. An extension organization has been developed (see page 1 for plan of organization) with headquarters at Storrs and a farm bureau in each county, which reaches into every town and community in the State.

There are five main divisions of the Extension Service, all of which are intimately associated. These divisions are represented by1. Work of Extension Specialists.

2. County Agricultural Agent work.

3. Junior Extension, including Boys' and Girls' Club work. 4. Home Economic work.

5. Marketing.

The Extension Service developed by having first Extension Specialists in the important branches of agriculture and in Boys' and Girls' club work. Second came the County Agricultural Agents, with the County Farm Bureaus. Within the last two years the Farm Bureau has added to its staff Boys' and Girls' workers and Home Demonstration Agents in Home Economics work. State Leaders in Agricultural Agent work, Boys' and Girls' work, and Home Economics work are maintained jointly by the Agricultural College and the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

EXTENSION SPECIALISTS-The Extension specialists carry on their work through and in cooperation with the county workers. The county agent cannot be proficient in all branches of farming, in all phases of household work, and in cooperative and community organization. On the other hand, the county agents are more familiar with local conditions than Extension specialists. Hence, the two working together are able to render more efficient service than either can give