The St. Johns herald., 1896-03-28
BULLETIN NO. FOUR. Interesting Items from the Ari- zOna Experiment Station.


 We have received the following items respecting the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, at Tucson, from the director. Win. Stowe Devol. The information contained therein IS much sought after by citizens of the territory and will prove interesting to many of our readers:
 Bulletin No. 16, recently issued by the Arizona Agricultural Station. at Tucson, contains some interesting notes on apricots as grown upon the station farm in the Salt River valley, near Phe- nix The bulletin is sent free to all citizens of Arizona who apply for it.
 A few plants of the new Australian salt bush" (Atriplex semibaccatum) which is now attracting 80 much atten- ton, were grown last year, and made remarkable growth with but single irrigation during the season. Small packages of seed for trial will be sent to those in Arizona who apply to the Director Experiment Station, Tucson, Arizona and agree to report the result of the trial with the seed.
 An experiment with ramie was con- ducted last year, and it grew exceed ingly we'll. This comparatively new fiber plant is exciting more attention throughout the United States just now than any other. It, promises to become an important crop at no distant day. The one thing now preventing it's gen. eral culture and manufacture is the need of a satisfactory decorticating machine. The fabric manufactured from this plant is beautiful one, pos sessing a Iuster much like silk. It might be we'll to try growing ramie in all parts of the Territory in order to be prepared to grow 1t in the proper places to secure large returns, when the ma" chine shall have been invented. A package of the seed will be sent to all applying to the Director of the Station, TucsCn.
 An experiment in the feeding of dairy COWS for the purpose of ascertaining how best to improve the quality of milk where the principal food is alfalfa, has been inaugurated by the Experiment Station. A herd of fifteen COWS has been selected, and number of differ ent foods will be used in connection with alfalfa hay and pasture. The re- suits will be awaited with interest. es- pecially by the dairymen of Arizona.
 Those who are engaged i'll ranching, fruit growing and stock growing, and come across problems which they do not understand, should make applica- tion to the Experiment Station for as- sistance. The station is in existence for the good of the people. and all com munications addressed to the Director, at Tucson, will receive prompt atten- ton.
 Eleven varieties of tobacco were grown lost year, and they showed such excellent growth that there can be little doubt but that tobacco could be made a very profitable crop in parts of Ari- ZOua. C66lS OI In0 kOitOWIuS tdtACtACo were grown for distribution, ,and 8 pack age of each will be sent to all residents of Arizona applying to Director Exper- lment Station. Tucson. Arizona, until the supply is exhausted. The varieties are: Rano de Sumatra. White Burley, Conqueror, Remedies, Connecticut Seed Leaf, Brazilian, Partidas, Hestor, Com. stock Spanish, and Little Oronoko,
 The Experiment Station has been in existence in Arizona for five years, dur ing which time a large collection of fruit trees has accumulated upon it's farms. A recent bulletin gives list of the trees now growing upon the station grounds.
 The Experiment Station, Tucson. Ar izona, is deslrous of obtaining fine spec imens of fruits of all kinds grown in the territory, for the purpose of com pairing the products of the different sections and illustrating the agricul- tural resources of Arizona.