The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-12-15
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The state school Of Agriculture Has
Developed Usefulness.
In the annual report Of the state
school of agriculture. just being is
sued, q large amount Of interesting
material in the way CT bulletins is pre-
scented.
Dean Liggett, director Of the school,
presents a summary Of the work Of the
institution. During the year there
have been issued four bulletins whose
combined publication pages number
13,6s7,Oco showing something of the
circulation which these publications
ing June 80 the experiment station,
which ia practically a part of the
school in sc far as work is concerned,
expended a little over $4,000. The
substation at Crookston cost 81, 300,
n the n at Grand Rapids $4,395.
The director discusses at length the
work which is carried forward in the
various divisions. In agriculture, many
experiments have been made, particu-
larly in the line of breeding new varie-
ties of wheat. In horticulture, II Of
the most interesting features is the
testing Of varieties Of apple trees sent
to the school in competition for the
$1,000 prize offered by the Minnesota
State Horticultural society for a seed
ling apple as hardy and prolific as the
Duchess, with fruit equal to the
Wealthy in size, quality and appear
ance, and that will keep al well as the
Malinda. Fifteen fruit growers have
already entered the contest and have
sent in scions for trial. The edition Of
10000 copies of Prof. GREEN'S Forestry
in Minnesota" issued by the Minneso-
Ia State Forestry association, has been
exhausted, Inc a revised edition has
been ordered by the board of regents.
In the division of entomology the
work Of Prof. Lugger in stamping out
the grasshopper pest on its first ap-
pearance in n part of the state is
described. The need Of a small build
ing is needed where instruction in bee
keeping may be given. Prof. Snyder,
in the division Of chemistry, has car
ried on many Investigations and ex-
periments in determining the best pro-
portion Of food for workingmen, test
ing the common foods-as milk, cheese.
bread, beans, butter and eggs. Many
analyses Of soils have been made for
the farmers of the state.
In the dairy divisionS 1t has been
shown by Prof. Hecker that the or
binary returns from dairy cows may
be increased by nearly 100 per cent
when scientific feeding is practiced.
1t is shown that If the 10000 dairy
COWS in Minnesota were systematically
fed in accordance with the needs of
the animal body for milk production.
there would be an additional net an
nlal income to the dairymen of the
state of 81, $780, 200.
Owing YER largely to the work OF
the veterinary division the losses from
hog cholera have been less h In.
any years since 1896. The veterinary
section is cooperating with the bacteri-
illogical laboratory of the state board
of health in studying some of the new
and undescribed animal diseases prev
alent in the state. Investigation Is
now under way in connection with in
fectious cerebro-spinal meningitis and
malignant catarrh among animals, and
results will be announced later.
In the division of animal husbandry
many experiments have been carried
on in fencing pasture crops for sheep;
in growing soiling foods for sheep and
swine; in growing winter fodder for
sheep; in feeding steers in stalls and
in the open sheds; in feeding pigs OF
various breeds and grades on the
bacon plan; in changing the breeding
habits Of sheep.
Poultry has attracted much attention
at the school during the year. and
Prof. Drew has devoted much time to
It. The farmers Of the state are
showing an increased interest in poul-
try, and this new department, or h
elaboration of the work of an old de-
partment. promises to do much for the
farmers in producing better grades OF
poultry than have yet been in use.
Experimental work of an interesting
character has been carried on at the
farms at Crookston and Grand Rap
ids. At the latter farm The value and
Importance Of vegetable raising In the
Red river valley are being emphasized
by the experiments now under way
At the Coteau farm q general study of
field management has been in prog
ress. The value Of the work has been
greatly enhanced by the use OF an
electrical device invented by Prot.
Whitney, Of the department of agri-
culture in Washington, by which rec
crds are kept Of the amount of mois-
ture in plants Of soil differently treat
cd, Much valuable work has been
done in showing farmers how moisture
ma be brought into the soil and re-
tanned by blowing, cultivating AMI
mulching under improved methods.
The school is now well into it's new
year. It issby far the most satisfac-
tory year In the history Of the institu-
ton. The attendance is fully 10 per
cent higher than in any previous year
at a corresponding period. In every
division the work Is being pushed with
vigor.
The, steady growth Of the institution
canrot better. be shown than by the
following tabular statement. secured
through the courtdsy Of Secretary wye.
It shows the growth Of the school by
years:
1S8a-18S0 >. 80. ..i...t !. /. ..s.s p
1000 ,oon n