Our station pursued its line of inquiry in feeding soiling crops, through July and August of 1894. No rain fell from the 23d of June until the 10th of August. The pastures were dried up and stock that was not fed by hand suffered more severely than at any time since the prairies of the State were enclosed and animals were confined within. fences. The drouth affected pastures unusually early, continuing all summer, strengthening our conviction that successful animal husbandry in the State requires additions to our cropping system that will furnish plants in their best condition for feeding during all the months of summer. We have been depending in the past on pasture grasses until the corn was fit to cut. It has been fed, in addition to pasture, until fall rains revived the grasses. This has given us indifferent and varying results, but it never has kept the dairy cow up to her maximum of milk-giving, nor has it kept the young animal growing as it should grow, nor the meat-making animal putting on flesh satisfactorily. As values of land advance, it becomes more evident that we must have better returns from domestic animals, and to this end it will be necessary to add to our crops the leguminous plants that trial has proved can be developed from those native to the soil, or that can be imported from climates similar to ours, where they have served mankind for long periods of time.

Owing to the great beauty and usefulness of the ferns in decorative lines,and the difficulties with which they are grown in the North and Northwest, numerous inquiries have come to us from time to time as to the best varieties. This led us to make some experiments in this direction.

A large number of ferns have been subjected to very rigid tests for several years, and the results have indeed been gratifying, as we have proven beyond doubt that many of the most beautiful ones will thrive and soon make handsome specimens with a little care.

Since interest in winter wheat growing has revived in some sections of Iowa considerable merit has been claimed for the press drill over other grain drills and other methods of seeding. The Hoosier Press Drill Co., of Richmond, Ind., furnished the Iowa Experiment Station a drill free of charge, and we deemed it of interest to test its value for sowing winter wheat. Accordingly, on October 2, 1893, a small piece of ground, that had grown a crop of oats and vetches, was plowed to a depth of five inches and disced and harrowed thoroughly, and one-half of the piece sown with Turkish Red winter wheat with the Hoosier press drill, and the remainder with the same variety of wheat, at the same rate per acre, with a common grain drill. The principal point of difference in these machines is that the press drill has runners like a corn planter, that may be forced down to a depth of four or five inches,'and each runner is followed by a narrow wheel that firms the earth over the grain and leaves the soil between the rows standing up in ridges, by reason of which snow falling upon the field during winter lodges first in these tracks and protects the plants. The common drill also leaves the ground ridged, but does not press the soil over the seed, and the ridges are less marked. The soil of both plats was uniform, and all conditions were the same except the method of seeding. The depth of seeding was about four inches on each plat. The crop came on well, both plats coming up about the same time and going through the winter in similar condition. But little if any difference was noticed in the early stages of growth. Some difference was noticeable through May and June, but it was not until the wheat was in shock that any marked contrast was apparent. Then it was clear that the press drill plat had the heavier crop, though the stand was good on each. Both pieces ripened at the same time, and were harvested July 19th and handled alike. When threshed the press drill plat, containing 85 square rods, gave 25 bushels and 30 pounds of wheat that tested 61 ¹/₂ pounds to the bushel; and the common drill plat of the same area gave 16 bushels that made the same test. The first was at the rate of 48 bushels per acre and the second 30 bushels, a difference of 18 bushels per acre in favor of the press drill. In hauling the grain a mile and a half to the threshing machine one load from the press drill plat fell off and in the extra handling some grain shattered out, but not enough to make any material difference, though whatever it was came from the heavier yield. The test in its details and execution was satisfactorily conducted, and the comparison a fair one so far as could be determined by a single trial, and the result is given as such for what immediate service it may be to those interested ; though a comparison of this kind needs to be repeated several times, and under varying conditions, in order to safely establish conclusions.

The importance of efficient ventilation of dairy barns has been emphasized by the recent investigation of the causes conducive to the development and contagion of tuberculosis in cattle. Bulletin No. 7, of United States Bureau of Animal Industry, on Investigations Concerning Bovine Tuberculosis, says: “Fully nine-tenths of all diseased animals have been infected by inhaling the tubercle bacilli dried and suspended in the air.” Without proper ventilation the tubercle bacilli and other disease germs must be much more readily inhaled, and it is a matter of record that the worst diseased herds are found in poorly lighted and poorly ventilated buildings; while range cattle and other stock, seldom sheltered or confined in close buildings, shows practical immunity from the disease. Most barns have no system of ventilation except the introduction of outside air through doors and windows, and farm buildings generally "have an inadequate supply of these. In view of the importance of this subject, the plan of ventilation, and incidentally some other features, of an experimental barn recently constructed at the Iowa Agricultural College is herein presented.