Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-01-17
SCIENTIFIC
FARMING
Work Of the College Of Ag-
riculture and Mechanic
Arts.
ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED
More Applications for Advice
Have Been Received From
Farmers Than Ever
Before.
ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED

Mexico College Of Agriculture and Me-
chanic Arts and Agricultural Expert
ment Station at Mesilla Park, has been
submitted to Governor Otero.
The board of regents consists Of
Granville A. Richardson of Roswell,
president; Herbert B. Holt Of Las CRU
ces, secretary and treasurer; Jose Lu-
cero of Las Cruces, Seaman Field of
Deming, and W. A. Cooper of Santa Fe.
The advisory members are Hon. M. a.
Otero of Santa Fe, governor, and Hon.
]. Francisco Chaves of Santa Fe, sup
erintendent of public instruction.
Professor Luther Foster, the director,
says the discontinuance of the sub-sta-
tions and the concentration of the
whole energy at the main station has
tended to strengthen the work and
make it more effective. The lines of in
vestigation followed were planned after
the most careful consideration and
there is now a settled policy in station
work. The heads of the departments
have been long enough in charge to be-
come familiar with the local conditions
in the territory and the more urgent
needs of those engaged in the different
lines of farming. Exhibits have been
made at fairs and expositions to the
great benefit of the territory Material
for bulletins from original work Is now
accumulating faster than the present
force can prepare it for publication.
For the years 1923 there IS in sight
material for at least double the usual
number Of bulletins.
The most important investigation
undertaken by the station since 1t was
organized, that of irrigation by pump
ing from wells, was started during the
year. While the work is at present on
" at its beginning, 1t bids fair to bring
large areas of fertile land into cultiva-
tion in numerous valleys Of the terri
tory. The problems pertaining to irri-
cation, the redemption Of alkali soils
and the combating of orchard pests
and especially the codling moth are
considered the most important at pre-
sent to the people Of the territory and
the greatest attention will be given to
them. Four regular bulletins, 1S press
bulletins and the annual report were Is
sued during the year. Bulletins are at
present sent to 5000 readers.
Professor Arthur Goss, chemist at
the station. has carried on the work on
the water supply Of the territory. Sam
Piles Of water taken from the Pecos
river and reservoirs were analyzed to
determine the composition Of water at
different seasons and stages of the riv-
err. Samples Of water from other
streams and springs were also analyz-
ed. Particular attention was given to
the composition of the ash of num-
ber Of native plants growing on alkali
and other classes of soils. The results
of these experiments will be made
known in bulletin form. In co-opera-
tion with the horticultural department,
analyses were made Of a number Of ap-
pies from the station orchard which
had been sprayed with different kinds
Of arsenic compounds in order to deter
mine II any poison was left on the ma
ture fruit. A large number Of analyses
Of miscellaneous articles was made.
The botanist, Professor E. o. Woot-
en-, continued the study Of native trees
and shrubs with the view of obtaining
information on their probable value as
shade and forest trees. additional in
formation was secured on the methods
Of protecting ranges. There was gen.
eral overhauling and new classification
Of the herbarium.
The work Of the soil department, con.
Quoted by Professor J. d. Tinsley, may
be classed as soil moisture, and general
soil studies, alkali and drainage, mete.
orology and miscellaneous work.. The
month Of August was spent by the
head Of the department in the Pecos
valley giving advice as to alkali ant
drainage conditions. The greater por.
tion Of the month was spent near Ros
well and more requests were received
for advice than ever before. In the de.
partment of agriculture, Professor j. J
Vernon conducted experiments with al
falfa, wheat, in soil moisture, feeding
and irrigation. He accompanied Pro
fessor Tinsley on his trip through tht
Pecos valley.
Professor Fabian Garcia, the horticul
turist, continued the lines of former in
vestigations. In addition he made OBJ
servations on the blooming and ripen
| ing periods Of fruits and conducted ex
periments along this line in connection
with the pomological division Of th'
department Of agriculture at Washing
ton, particularly in reference to peach
! es, apples and pears. Many other test
have been made, as for spraying TO
| the codling moth, heavy winter irriga
tion Of fruit trees and with black Der
ries. Experiments with vegetables In
cluded work with the cabbage, melon
and corn. Observations Of forest tree
and ornamental trees, shrubs and flow
ers have been continued. A suitabl
building is needed to keep fruit. onion
and sweet potatoes in and q bette
heating plant for the green hqns
should be provided.