The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-07
AGRICULTURE AT PURDUE
REPORT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL
STATION FOR 1897.
Sugar Beet Tests Have Attracted
Much AttentiOn-COws and Tuber-
cuIosis-Hog Cholera.

The report Of the agricultural experiment
station at Purdue for the year 1897 is in the
hands of the Governor. This station has the
reputation of being one of the best in the
country. The science of agriculture is being
constantly advanced by the experiments
and researches that it conducts, and the
carefully prepared bulletins of its various
departments are eagerly sought after by all
the progressive up-to-date farmers in the
State. There are five leading departments
at the station, the horticultural the agrcul-
tural, the chemical. the veterinary and the
botanical departments. Each of these de-
partments is under the control of special
st and the whole is under the management
of President Smart and the board of control
of Purdue University. The station is main
tanned by an appropriation from the United
States government which last year amount
ed to $4,000. This sum was supplemented
during the year by S1,134S6 the amount rep
resenting the receipts from the farm
The report from the station contains COM
prehensive reports from each of the depart
ments and from the board of control Per-
haps the most interesting matter contained
in them is that relating to the sugar-beet
experiments which the station has been con-
Quoting for the last several years.
Charles b. Stuart president of the board
of control, in his report, says: I'm the chem
ical department the sugar beet has occupied
a large part of the attention. Farmers and
prospective investors are asking for infor-
nation concerning the adaptability OF In
diana soil for profitable beet production,
and in order to meet the growing demand
for such information the station planned
and carried out during the year more far
reaching experiments than heretofore. Five
I,on cant n
farmers, who agreed to grow one-quarter
of an acre or more and as a result 300 sam
pies of beet from twenty-three different
| counties were tested last fall. A bulletin
of the whole subject is now being prepared.
| In connection with the sugar-beet work, it
| IS gratifying to be able to say that much
| territory in Indiana seems well adapted to
| growing q beet rich in sugar. The station
| tests have attracted much attention from
| within and without the State, and in several
| counties, with headquarters at New Castle'
| Fort Wayne and Hamlet, sugar-beet asso-
| Citations have been formed. Efforts are now
| in progress which 1t Is hopea VIII leo.i e. -
| the creation of one or more beet-sugar Iac-
| tories in Indiana in the near future: ~ -
| the intention the coming year to dlstrtp ;t
| a large quantity of beet seed IN dlstfiCts
| where the adaptability of the soil for TINS
| root has not yet been tried. Many pupnca-
| tons have been issued concerning me 6 patso
/
| been conducted by the station.
| DISTRIBUTING BEET SEED.
| n A. Huston, the head of the chemical
| department, says in his report concerning
| the sugar beet that the interest in the pro-
| duction of the beet has been far greater
than in the previous year There were
| many applications for seed and the pros
| poets for an extension and thorough test
| of raising beets seemed very promising 1t
was therefore decided says he, Ito con-
duct the tests on such a scale that both
the quality of the beets and the kind OF
work required for their production should
be demonstrated. AS there seems to be a
probability that beet factories might be
erected in the State in the near future it
| was thought desirable to urge farmers to
become familiar with beet culture under
factory conditions, that they might be IN
| a position to consider contracts Tor raising
| beets should opportunity arise. The wisdom
| OF this policy became very manlfest as tnS ne
| season advanced, for before the close o.
the year beet contracts were presented 70
farmers in several sections or the Oldle,
Seed was distributed to 1O1 farmers IN
| tWenty-three different counties and many
good results were secured aespl . me , un-
| In fact the results were very gratifying III
| all sections and many evidences were given
| that the work of the station was hlgniy
| appreciated by the people.
| In the veterinary department the lnVeStl-
| cations were also of more than passing I'M
| portance The subject of tuberculosis was
| greatly increased in discussion and resulted
| in indianapolis requiring all COWS that sup
| ply the city with milk to be tested with
| tuberculine The station tested over lOOQ
animals up to Jan. /, while Dr. Biting ana
his deputy tested 1000 others. The report
| says that the demands upon the department
for testing animals is becoming burden
some and that 1t should be called upon IN
only such cases where the interests of the
| science may be advanced. The losses to
| swine by reason of cholera was 20 per cent.
! less in 1897 than in 1896, but the loss in
1897 was nevertheless So, 5O0,OO0 much OF
| which was due to improper water supply.
| The passage of bill through the l1eglSla-
| ture was secured, requiring the disinfec-
| ton of pens of stockyards and talr GROUNDS,
ii having been demonstrated that cholera
| has been largely disseminated on account OF
the uncleany condition of these places
large mushroom house was erected
| last fall for the botanical department, IN
/ which fungi is developed Much attention IS
being given by this department to study
| of potato scab and it's treatment. Many
| interesting experiments in flower culture,
| and Investigations of edibles, wild ana Gull
tiVated have been conducted. In the nor
ticultural department the effect of climate
| on forest tree seedlings and similar re-
| searches are being made The report of the
| agricultural department has been delayed
i'm its preparation, but it is expected to con-
| tain information relative to field expert
| ments on wheat and similar matter.
| The mailing list of the station now con-
l tains H. $50 names