The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1892-02-05

dud SIOuoI1lC USE, ana u deteIllllIlailoll
of the relative merits of the various
means for applying these insecticides
are among the matters under investiga-
ton
The department has devised sprirk
Ter Tor applying Paris green or London
purple to potatoes, which proved quite
successful and almost entirely replaced
hand labor Tor this labor on the college
farm. A description Of this machine
will appear in Ahelr next bulletin.
Beekeeplng has been given share Of
attention this past season, Five colonies
OF bees received IN May have been under
observation during the summer. Their
net increase was two swarms Several
seasons work viii be required before Il
positive opinion can be expressed as to
the value OF bees on our prairles. An
lnsectary has been erected on the college
grounds the past season; this will greatly
improve the opportunities for halching
and rearing insects and determining
those that are helpful as well as in
Jurous.
In the veterinary department labora-
tory Tor original work was completed
during the past season and the head of
that department has been investigating
CHAMBERS and diseases OF the sheep.
Among the latter were scab, tapeworm,
and nodular disease He also inYesti-
gated numerous out breaks Of blackleg
and other diseases. Tho special work
that the farmers in our vicinity most
highly appreciate was free clinics one
afternoon each week, which was given in
connection with instruction to college
classes. III this free treatment was
given to al cases Of disease or cripple
where the animals We're brought to the
department buildings. An average OF
about twenty cases per afternoon We're
thus treated by the veterinarian or by
students under his supervision.
The laboratory is supplied with neces-
sary apparatus for research. The depart
ment has also a museum male up Of
large collection of diseased specimens
for study and comparison and instru-
menfs necessary for all the operations
of general surgery, obstetrics and deniis-
try The clinics yard is supplied With a
casting harness and operating table.
n the department Of Chemistry Prof
Shepard and his assistant, MIR Hopkins,
have made the analysis Of SUGAR beets
one oi their principal lines OF work, hay
ing determined the sugar contents of beets
from almost every county in the state.
They are also making analysis Of all the
prominent native grasses OF the state,
and other foods: still another line Of work
in progress in their laboratory is soil
analysis. These are all valuable limos
and the results when determined OF i'm
mediate practical value toour state.
In the department Of Horticulture the
forestry plat has been extended the pas
season until it covers about II acres. 1t
presents very promising indications.
Tie work with garden vegetables has
had for its object determination Of value
and adaptaliIity 10 the climate OF tire
state. X considerable work ID small
fruits is n progress. The experimental
orchard though young is In fine ronul-
tion. In Botany complete collection
ofnative grasses has been made and sam
Piles furnished the chemist for analysis.
In my own department over 700 field
experiments We're in progress during the
season. The work may be briefly out
lined as follows:
l. Variety tests to determine; (al
what kindso OF corn can be mostly relied
on TO mature and give fair return in an
average DAKOTA season; 0b) the varieties
Of wheat, oats and barley that will give
the largest yield and the best quality OF
grain, (c) what grasses, cioyers. or forage
plants can be relied Oh TO best serve US
Tor pasture or meadow, and what others
supply coarse fodder IN seasons Of
drought when the regular sources Of
supply fail.
2. Methods of preparing seedbed for
the different crops. This has reference
not only to pulyerizing and freeing from
weeds at time OF seedi.g, but t. depth Of
ploWlng. and subsoillng, and time Of
plowing.
3. Methods OF seedir 9 or planting
and quantity oi seed. In this line Of
methods Of putting in not only the small
grain crop. but corn, potatoes, and peas
as we'll are being tested At the same
time the experiments look 10 economy Of
seed used as well as economy OF labor in
accomplishing the work
4. Methods of cultivation is another
line Of work being Investigated by this
division o! the station This applies
principally to the corn and potatoe crop,
but is almost OF eqnal value IN freeing
the small grain crop from some varieties
OF weeds that threaten to destroy it in its
corn and potatoes it includes eepp and
shallow, frequent and sparing, and regu-
larssand irregular cultivation.
5. Time Of seeding is a,so quite an
important line that IS receiving due at
tentlon
6. With live stock comparison OF
breeds for different purposes is IN pro
gress, special attention being given TO
Shropshire and Merino sheep, their cross
es and grades.
A new line of investigation, that OF
dairy science, has been added to the
station during the past season.