Co-operative work with farmers in the study of sugar beet culture was continued during the past year, and on the whole with very encouraging results.

Forty-one farmers entered into the work, taking seed in the spring, under agreement to cultivate according to directions and send in samples of the crop for analysis, but several of them failed to secure a crop which they considered worthy of chemical investigation and therefore sent no sample. Several persons, however, who obtained their seed elsewhere requested that their beets be analyzed at the station; which requests being granted, the total number of those sennding in samples was thirty-three,* representing twenty counties of the state.

Among the insects which have been particularly destructive the past season the wheat head army worm is conspicuous. Reports received from different parts of the state, besides numerous articles in state papers, indicate it in many parts of the state heretofore free from it. It is especially noticeable on account of the method in which it works, the worm attacking the heads of timothy and shelling out the seed. In this way it causes almost a total loss of the seed crop, and, since its work appears after the time when timothy is best cut for hay, it also causes a considerable, if not total, loss of the hay crop.

Most of the reports of its injuries this season have come from the northeastern portion of the state, especially in the line of counties from Dubuque west to the middle of the state, but in a general way the reports indicate damage in all of the northeastern counties. A few years ago loss of the same nature occurred in some of the southeastern counties, the loss in Jefferson county being estimated at something like $150,000, and $30,000 in Wayne county. Reports during that year, 1887, showed its presence in the counties of Adair, Appanoose, Davis, Clarke, Decatur, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Lucas, Ringgold, Van Buren and Wayne.

During the summer of 1893 this station continued inquiry into soiling crops begun in 1891. The long continued drouth beginning in July and continuing into October, resulting in bare pastures and great loss to owners of all domestic animals, makes necessary thorough inquiry into all plants suitable to our soil and climate that mature during the months when experience shows us something must be prepared to supplement the pasture.

Much can be done by preparing well seeded acres, or ample area, to keep stock over short dry periods, but it is evident that such long drouths as we had during the past summer must be anticipated by fodders that can be cut in succession, and of such character as the different objects the feeder has in view demand. It is the purpose of this station to ascertain for the farmers of Iowa what plants suitable for green feeding grow most satisfactorily with us, what effect they severally have on milk and meat production; particularly what quality of butter can be made from each, and how much of each is sufficient for a milk cow, feeding steer, sheep, hog or work horse.

Rainfall (including melted snow) at the Experiment Station, from March 1, 1893, to September 1, 1893.

The writer has on several occasions expressed his views on the subject, crossing of cucurbits. The views expressed have met with some opposition among professional gardeners, horticulturists and many farmers who cling tenaciously to the old notion, that pumpkins and melons will “mix.” So far as I know the results of our work at the station are in harmony with those made by other investigators in both Europe and America.

In a former bulletin of this station the results of our work for 1892 were given. In this bulletin will also be found references to some of the literature on the subject.