The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-15
FIELD, SCHLICK { co.
STATE EXPERIMENT WORK.
Bulletin so Treats of Many Interest.
ing Subjects.

ing subjects.
Bulletin No. so has just been issued
from the agricultural experiment sta.
ton. The bulletin is prepared by Prof.
Hays, I. A. Hoyerstad Warren w,
PendergaSt and Andrew Boss. COnsid-
cradle space is taken up in a descrip-
ton of the work of substations where
experiments in agriculture can be car
ried on on a more extensive scale than
at the home station. The northwest
farm, or substation, at CroOkston,
which consists of 450 acres, will this
year take up the question of prairie
forests, and so important is this work
considered by the department of agri-
culture at Washington that the depart
ment has undertaken to supplement the
work Of the substatiOn and make it in
reality one of the forestry experiment.
station of the national department of
agriculture an important matter to the
station and state.
Experiments in methods of preparing
the land and of planting and Cultivat
ing crops under the peculiar conditions
Of soil and climate in the Red river
valley will also be carried on this sea-
son. and there will be pasturage eX-
periments with stock.
The northeast farm at Grand Rapids,
acquired in 1896, consists of 453 acres,
No results have been as yet obtained
the sandy loan and stony land of this
farm are suitable only for forest and
grass crops, some very important de-
velopments in these lines are looked
for. Experiments in forestry on a
more extended plan than at Crookston
will also be carried on. in which the
national government will assist
Experiments in methods of prepara-
ton of the soil, in methods of planting
and in intercultural tillage are well
under way at the third substation, CO.
teau farm.
The practical results Of the expert
ments which have been under way IN
this department Of the stations activ-
tiles are shown in tabular statement
as to the Improvement of character
and yield in beans, corn, barley, peas,
oats, root crops and wheat. While
much Of this work is slow, owing to
the fact that it takes several years to
reach results which are at all practical,
yet the experimentation is demonstrate
ing the wisdom of it's introduction into
the work of the station.
During several years past 120 Varie-
ties Of corn have been collected and
placed on trial, and a very large num-
Der Of them have proved on experiment
tation to be unfit for use in Minnesota
soil and climate. Others. a few in
number, have been found admirably
The station in its work not only helps
farmers to select good seed, but aids
them in rejecting the poor kinds, thus
saving them in time money and labor.
Eighteen varieties Of oats have been
selected from seventy-five kinds in one
class or series. and ten of the best of
the eighteen have been reserved for
further experimentation and breeding.
The points determined in testing va
rieties of oats are yield of grain per
acre ability of straw to stand erect
on rich land, the weight per bushel,
and the feeding quality of the grain.
But important as are the results in
other grains, the experiments in wheat
breeding are far more important in
Minnesota from a commercial stand
point, and the bulletin gives evidence
Of the value of the work now in prog
ress. II is now almost ten years
since the station began experimental
ton in wheat to show what kinds are
best suited to this climate and still
more important to breed new kinds
from old parents. Out of 200 collected
scrlbed in a tabular statement showing
the per cent that lodge, the height Of
the stalk, length of head, days matur~
ing, weight per bushel and so on.
Under the head Of root crops, the
sugar beet comes in for consideration.
Inc results OF experiments IldOle at IHe
station in the year just past are shown.
The experiments were in the nature OF
a trial The methods were as follows:
The labor is reckoned at $31 per month,
the laborer boarding himself Two horses
with implements are counted equal to a man.
Two and one-half dollars per acre are allowed
for the rental OF the land. Seven pounds OF
seed per acre costing 20 cents per pound
were used. The cost per acre is $32.17 and
with fifteen tons Of beets per acre the cost
is only 1924 per ton. The cost of the beets
at the factory, including the hauling, would
be greater in proportion to the distance
hauled. And If the beets must me stored
to prevent freezing before the factory can
make use of them cost Of storage, of pits.
building of cellars, also the cost Of an add-
tional handling must be added. The beets
were produced under conditions only slightly
more favorable than ordinary. While the land
is in good condition the labor is high priced.
The conditions are no more favorable than
most farmers could have on the best parts
of their land if they were accustomed to
raising sugar beets. And while the yield is
somewhat better than the farmers would,
the average. obtain the cost is also greater
for labor. The Minnesota Experimental sta
ton has proven that beets Of good quality
can be cheaply raised in the state particular
ly in the southern half.
Elaborate tables are given to show the
results of experiments in rotation Of crops.