The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-04-23
THE COLLEGE FARM.
Department of Agriculture Of
the Oregon Agricultural Col
1ege.

Of all the departments at the Oregon
Agricultural College, that of agriculture
itself is of the most direct interest to
those engaged in farming. The head of
this department of the college work is
Prof. H. T. French, who is also the sta
ton agriculturist, and directs all the ex-
periments connected with this depart
ment.
The college farm contains las acres,
and is we'll equipped with barns, stock,
machinery, etc. A portion of the farm
is divided into small experiment plats.
upon which are planted various varieties
of grains, grasses and vegetables that are
to be tested. The next year those varie-
ties that seem to promise good results,
are tested further on the larger fields of
! the farm. In this manner there have
been tested SO varieties of wheat, rs to 30
of oats, 10 of barley, 400 varieties of po-
tatoes and also large variety of roots.
OF the 400 varieties of potatoes 100 have
been found to be we'll adapted to this soil
aud climate and are being grown this
year.
Each year sample packages of seed
from the various promising varieties of
grains, grasses aud vegetables are distri-
buted among the farmers, of the state.
Those receiving the seeds are requested
to try them and report results to the sta
ton. In many instances years elapse
before reports reach the department.
which makes it impossible to estimate
the benefits that are constantly accruing
to the state indirectly through the depart
meut of agriculture. 10 illustrate the
force of this statement Prof French says
pound of potatoes to farmer i'll Marion
county for trial. The sample was of the
Rubicund variety and promised excellent
results. Nothing was heard at the station
relative to the experience of the Marion
county farmer and it was supposed that
the potatoes had proved failure. Last
week, however, Professor French was
agreeably surprised at receiving letter |
from the gentleman, stating that the po-
tatoes were great success. From the |
single pound of seed received three years |
ago, he had grown, last year, 800 bushels |
of fine marketable potatoes for which he
had received an advance of 10 cents per |
bushel over the price received by his
neighbors.
This, of course. is only one of the
many similar instances showing the bene-
fetal results that are accruing to the |
farmers of Oregon through the work car
ried on at the experiment station.
From tile different varieties of wheat |
that have been tested under the direction
of Prof. French one has been found that
seems to be especially adapted to our soil
aud climatic conditions. This variety j. |
called mo. Io.' Its points of superiori-
ty over other wheats are numerous, and
its general cultivation throughout the
state will increase the farmers incomes
many thousands of dollars annually.
mo. 10" is a hard wheat of excellent
milling quality and natures fully two
weeks earli;r than the common white
winter wheat. III Western Oregon, par
ticuEarly, where gram is frequently lost
on account of early fail rains, this point
in favor of mo. 10" is one that wheat
growers will readily appreciate. This
variety also yields we'll, averaging, last
year, on the college farm little over 80
bushels per acre and, besides it averages
81 pounds to the bushel, being probably
the heaviest wheat grown in the state.
Another thing that Prof. French has
demonstrated is. that corn can be success
fully grown in Oregon. He advises far
mers to grow few acres of it on their
fallow each year for feed. By
feeding it to hogs, the professor says,
corn can be made a pro6tably crop.
Years ago it was claimed that clover
could not be grown successfully in this
state, but that idea has been exploded by
the experiments carried on at the college
where it is raised in large quantities each
year. Last year the yield was not above
the average, yet o6 tons of choice clover
hay was harvested from 2S acres of mea-
dow.
Prof. French is authority for the state
ment that stock ought not to be allowed
to run Oh pasture during the wet season.
Besides destroying the grass by constant
ly tramping over it while the ground is
wet and soft, the stock is exposed to the
cold winds and rains, which IS injurious
and causes them. to lose in weight. By
keeping stock in small enclosures dur
ing the winter months and feeding them
straw, with little hay and bran, they
can be kept growing at slight expense per
hsad and will be in good condition in the
spring.
The chief line of work settled upon for
tine present by the department of agricul-
ture, is dairying. Experiments will be
made in feeding milch cows to determine
the effect of different kinds of feed upon
the production of milk and along this
line the attention will be given to the
matter of growing forage plants. These
will be made with view to
the farmers of Oregon with
reliable information on the subject of
dairying
Four years are required to complete
the course i'll agriculture. After the
first two years, the student can select his
industrial work and may made special
ty of horticulture; dairying or stock
raising. The first two years, however, a
regular compulsory course, including
four terms in blacksmithing aud wood
working, is prescribed for all agricul
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