, 1898-08-17
UNIVERSITY FARM
WHERE INTERESTING AGRICUL-
TURAL EXPERIMENTS ARE
CARRIED OUT.
Fruit Trees, Small Fruits, Grain,
Grasses and Forage Plants, Stock
Foods and Vegetables of All Kinds
Being Grown-Soil Studies, Alkali
Experiments, Irrigation Problems.

the university without giving more
than passing notice to the experiment
farm which is run in connection with
the diversity.
The farm comprises forty acres, but
as a large portion of the ground is TAX
en- up by the roads and drives only
twenty-eight acres remain for cultiva-
ton, but all these are utilized to the
utmost.
The farm, in general, has been great
ly improved and this improvement is
due, in a large measure, to the careful
supervision Of Mr.. Fairfield, who has
been untiring in his efforts this sum-
mer.
The addition OF a porch has added
greatly to the appearance of the dwell
ing house on the farm, while the fin
fishing up of three rooms has materially
improved the interior.
A high fence has been recently built
around the house for protection to the
orchard and fruit garden.
A most interesting method discover
ed by the horticulturists of Wisconsin
has been employed to start the growth
of fruit trees after the setting out. This
consists of fitting a bottle to a stake
at the height Of top OF tree or a little
above and attaching it to one Of the
roots of the tree by means Of glass and
rubber tubing and filling the bottle
with water. This supplies the pres
sure of sap in the tree, keeping up its
moisture until the new roots have
formed and leaves started, and keeps
the tree from dying out at a time when
it can take no moisture from the soil.
1t is also an inexpensive method of in
surfing the growth of the tree.
A number of small fruits, principally
raspberries. currants, strawberries and
dewberries, have been grown on the
farm this summer and in every in
stance are bearing nicely.
The various experiments carried on
this year are full of interest.
One OF the most interesting plats Of
ground is that containing the small
grains. Upon a single acre OF ground are
now growing four hundred different
varieties Of wheat. one hundred and
twenty-five varieties CT oats and seven
ty-five varieties Of barley. By different
experiments it is hoped that an especi-
ally valuable variety Of grain a be
obtained for the Laramie plains where
the earlier varieties are found
to be more successful. 1t is also in
TENDED to create new varieties Of grain
where the chance arises and to improve
upon the ones on hand. In this way,
it is believed, can be obtained varieties
which will ripen earlier and produce
heavier crops than any of the kinds
now being grown.
Another important branch of work
being carried on by the station. and
one which. is especially noticeable to
visitors, is the experiments with grasses
and forage plants. Alfalfa has succeed
ed even better than IA expected and
a large area of the farm is now devot-
ed to its cultivation. 1t is proving val
liable not only as a haying crop, but it
is believed it will be the foundation of
a better agricultural practice in this
region than has been had hitherto. 1t
can only be cut twice in a season, but
it will produce three or four times as
much hay as native grass. Where it
is planted pernicious weeds cannot
thrive and it improves the soil SO that
heavy crops can be raised without any
other fertilizer.
Over one hundred kinds of clover,
vetches, grasses, etc., are being tried
with the hope that something even
more valuable than alfalfa will be OBJ
tanned eventually. Some of these
grasses. such as the fiat pea, French
clover or sanoin, and hairy vetch, are
standing drought remarkably we'll and
producing large crops. but their value
for stock food is yet to be determined.
The small plats Of native grasses with
their varied colors and heights pro-
duce a beautiful and novel effect.
Other crops are being raised for stock
food, notably artichokes. These, it is
believed, will prove OF great value as
food for hogs when fed with peas,
grains and alfalfa.
Some extensive soil studies are being
carried on, principally trials OF SUBJ
soiling. sub-irrigating, raising peas.
and other nitrogen gathering plants as
soil enrichers, growing crops in rota-
|tion and growing the same crop with
and without cultivation year after year
upon the anne land to determine its
lasting qualities, also experiments to
Determine some means of combating
Iof diminishing alkali.
Upon the alkali ground attempts are
being made to find crops Of value which
will thrive in the presence Of a large
amount of alkali; other plants, whether
Of value or not, which will remove the
alkali by taking 1t out Of the soil, and
still Others, such a. alfalfa and clover,
which will prevent the rise Of alkali by
keeping the ground shaded. The most
successful method Of dealing With al
kali, 90 far determined. seems to be
to wash 1t out Of the land BY using a
large amount Of water.
Upon one plat Of ground, an expert
ment upon potatoes Is being made with
different ktnAanP Observation-Disclosures ara