The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-04-14

be employed upon the western prairieS
in producing the crops that are cultiva-
ted here at such disadvantage. 1t is
thought By availing ourselves of the
natural advantages offered for the pro-
duction Of the apple, the grape and
great variety of other fruits, supple
mented perhaps by the Introduction
Of canning factories, much advantage
may result to the agricultural inter
ests of the State. The work in the
horticultural department has been
hampered by the same causes that
have prevented our conducting the
lines of experimental work upon agri-
cultural subjects pursued at other
Stations. The Station has been pro-
yided with green houses for the exper-
mental cultivation of the usual crops
grown in this way. and careful notes
have been taken upon the methods of
irrigation, and upon the effects of
electric light upon vegetation, and a
variety of other problems.
In connection with this work, much
has been done in testing the merits of
different varieties, and in determining
questions of economic interest as to
the cost of cultivation: the best
means of marketing; the immunity of
different varieties from attacks of
plant diseases, and careful experiments
have been conducted with a view to
warding off the assaults OF insect
pests. The Horticultural and Ento-
biological departments have worked
hand in hand in this enterprise with
gratifying results. We have received
applications for our bulletins from
parties interested in these lines of
work from almost every State in the
Union, showing that our Horticultur-
ist in carrying on his investigations
upon the effect of sub-irritation, es-
pecially, has struck line which has
proved interesting, and has attracted
the attention Of thinking men engaged
in this line of agricultural work.
Great things have been claimed for
the effect Of electric light elsewhere,
and its effect upon certain kinds of
vegetation is very marked, but it is
the province of the Experiment Sta
tion to determine the economic value
Of the application OF these principles
for the benefit OF the farmer and hor-
ticulturist and thereby save them the
expense Of making the experiments at
their individual cost and assuming
the risk of failure.
The work of the Chemical Depart
ment has been very largely concen-
trated upon the analysis of CONNER
cial Fertilizers, and in improving
methods of analysis for that purpose.
As a reporter to the Association Of
Official Agricultural Chemists of the
| United States DR.. de Roode has had
occasion to review and report upon
the methods for the determination OF
phosphoric acid, and has had the sat
isfaction of seeing many of his recon-
mendations adopted by the Agricul-
tural Chemists of the country The
efficiency and work of this department
can be estimated when il is understood
that every ton of commercial fertilizer
offered for sale within the borders of
our State must undergo inspection
and be subject to the checking infiu-
ence offered by the chemical labora-
tory, in charge of the Chemist of the
| Experiment Station. Every sack of
commercial fertilizer offered for sale
in this State carries upon it a tag CIV
| ing the analysis of our Chemist, and
bearing the guarantee of the Agricul-
tural Experiment Station that the
farmer is securing the quality Of goods
that is represented by the manufac-
turers as being sold. In addi-
tion to this, very large amount Of
analytical work has been done by him
upon great variety of subjects con-
nected with the development Of agri-
culture and the chemical laboratory
of the Station is placed at the COM
mand of the farmers of the State to
determine any question of permanent
and wide interest that may be submit
| ted by them. The resources from
which we have saved enough to COM
plete our building are derived from
the fees in this department. | need
not say more in regard to the work,
for the first time you buy sack of
commercial fertilizer, you will see
upon it reminder that the influence
of the West Virginia Agricultural Ex-
pertinent Station is abroad in the
land.
In the chronological department,
the energies Of the Station have been
concentrated upon the solution of
problems relating to Economic Ento-
mology, and while some work has been
| done In systematic entomology, and
in the determination of species col
lected by our Entomologist in his
tours of investigation through the
State, the greater portion OF the time,
and the resources of this department
have been concentrated upon problems
having direct bearing upon the ma
terial interests of our State.
In the study of the insects attack
ing the forests Of the State, sufficient
interest has been developed in the
work to inspire many Of the lumber
companies doing large business in
the State to subscribe money from
their own private resources to enable
our Entomologist to visit Europe in
quest of insect parasites that would
| check, If possible, the ravages of the
destructive beetles that have threat
ened to denude this State of its
Spruce and Pine forests. Last sum-
mer the distinguished Entomologisto of
the Michigan Agricultural College
stated that he believed the West Vir-
ginia Agricultural Experiment. Station
had accomplished more original work
in Entomology than any Station in
the country, or words to that effect.
Our Entomologist succeeded in in
Producing an insect parasite and has
located it by thousands in colonies
upon the properties of the several lum-
Der companies contributing to the ex-
pense of its importation, with view
of having it multiply, and prevent fu-
ture attacks of the destructive beetles
which have already done so much
damage to great natural resource
of our State. Should this enterprise
prove successful, as we have every rea-
son to believe it has, there is not the
slightest doubt that it will be of more
value in protecting one of the natural
resources of the State than the entire
cost of the Agricultural Experiment
Station in the next fifty years. So far
as am aware, the only attempt made
up to that time to combat insect raw
ges by the importation of insect enc
mics, was the importation of the Lady
Bug into California from Australia,
the credit for which was claimed by
G. V. Riley, U. S. Entomologist, as
great original experiment, and which
has contributed very much to the
preservation Of the orange groves OF