Sharp County record., 1896-08-21
EXPERIMENT FARMS.
What They Have Done and What
They Are Doing to Develop
The Agricultural Resources of the State
Six bulletins Issued Annually, One Every
Two Months, Each Edition $4,000
Copies-Twelve Thousand Far
mers Receive these Bulletins


for Arkansas in the matter of ascertain
Ing for farmers, fruit growers and stock
raisers new and better methods of
doing old work. By actual test and
practical investigation the experiment
farms purpose extending the limit Of
agricultural practice and recommending
such new modes of culture in all depart
ments OF farm operations as the results
OF observations may suggest. In addi-
ton to giving the farmers the benefit
of research and experiment, the direc-
tor of the experiment farm presents all
the latest information on the subject of
improved farming collected from all
sources, reported in bi-monthly bulle-
tins A few years ago these bulletins
were not generally appreciated, but of
late years have come to be regarded as
Indispensable and the demand for them
is still growing. An average OF 1000
names is now added annually to the
list.
Farmers Cannot Experiment SUCCESSFULLY.
But few farmers have the time and
the means to experiment thoroughly,
even though they may have the desire.
The process employed by individuals
must of necessity be limited and'the re-
suits confined in a degree to luck and
chance for want of proper mechanical
instruments and chemical aids required
In scientific investigation. The expert
ment farm at Fayetteville and the sub
stations at Camden and Newport are
supported entirely by the national gov
ernment. These farms are established
for the purpose of elevating the study
| of agriculture and to awaken a spirit
of improvement, as well also as to make
the wants and peculiarities Of the fields
more familiarly known to the farmers
and fruit growers who till them. The
experiment farm is equipped with
chemical appliances used in determin-
ing the principles Of agriculture by
theories deduced by experiments. 1t
has faculty Of scientists who conduct
experiments in the various depart
ments. Experiments are made in agri.
culture, horticulture, chemistry OF
foods, fertilizers, soil, animal and plant
diseases, etc. The law requires the di
rector at Fayettville to publish foul
bulletins annually tor circulation
among the farmers Of the state. Six
however, have been issued, owing tC
the increasing demand for them. Tn,
experiment farm of this state was es
tablished 1888. The present station
staff is composed Of: R: l.. Bennett, di
rector and agriculturist; Geo, L. Teller
chemist; R. R. Dinwidde, veterinarian
]. T. Stinson, horticulturist; c. L. New
man, assistant agriculturist at Camden
Geo B. Irby, assistant agriculturist
Newport; j. F. Moore, assistant chem
ist and librarian.
The United States appropriates tn
sum of s15, 200 year for the support 0
the farm and sub stations. No perso
who does not receive the bulletins sen
out from Fayetteville can gain any
thing like an idea Of the work being
done there.
The completed work Of the year 1895
is contained in seven bulletins. The
bulletins and their subject matter are
as follows:
Bulletin 31--Agriculture, fattening
mature steers on cotton seed and cow
pea hay, cowpeas, sweet potatoes, pea
nuts, cotton varieties, minor miscellan-
eous subjects,
Bulletin 32-Farm drainage, protec.
tion Of soil from surface washing, hill.
side bitches, terraces, drainage Of wet
lands, indications of the need Of drain
age, open bitches, underdrains.
Bulletin 33-Insects insects injurious
to fruits and vegetables and remedies
for destroying them.
Bulletin 34-Vegetable gardening,
vegetables, varieties, culture and fer
tilization, sundry experiments.
Bulletin 35-Animal pathology, ver-
minous bronchitis, parturient apoplexy
Of COWS, hog cholera and other swine
diseases, tuberculosis Of cattle, CLAN
ders in horses and mules,
Bulletin 3G-GraSses and clovers
suited TO different soils for pasture and
meadow.
Bulletin 37-Syrup and molasses,
sugar contents Of various brands of mo-
lasses, home made syrup.
In his annual report for the year Of
1895, Il. L, Bennet, director, says;
"The past year has been the most
prosperous one in the stations history,
both in the amount Of work done and
the increase of public interest in the
station work, While requests for in
formation and for bulletins have been
made each year, and have been con-
stantly increasing, more requests have
been received this year than in previous
years"
This statement Is encouraging us
showing that large element of farm
ers manifest desire 10 abandon In u
measure traditional methods and adopt
improved systems, Farming is pro.
crossing with other departments Of in.
dustry, Chemistry has done much to
improve agriculture. In each new dis
covery in chemistry some potent truth
applicable to practical agriculture has
come TO light The average cotton
planter and fruit grower has no time
to expend IN chemical tests but he Is
only too glad to avail himself of the