Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-01-21
SCIENTIFIC FARMING.
Work Of the College Of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts.
ANNUAL REPORT TO GOVERNOR.

The thirteenth annual report of the
New Mexico College of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts and Experimental
station at Mesllla PARK. has been sub
mitted to Governor Otcro.
The board of regents consists of
Granville A.. Richardson. of Roswell.
president; Herbert B.. Holt, Las Cru
ces. secretary and treasures; Jose Lu-
cero, Las Cruces; Seamon Field. Dem
ing, and w. A. Cooper. Santa Fe. The
advisory members are Hon. NJ. A.
Otero, of Santa Fe. governor, and Hon.
J. Francisco Chaves, of Santa Fe. sup
%erintendent of public instruction.
Professor Luther Foster, the direct
or, says the continuance of the sub
stations and the concentration of the
whole energy at the main station has
tended to strengthen the work and
make it more effective. The line of in
vestigation followed we're planned af-
ter 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 local conditions in
the territory int 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 accommodating fasten than the
present force can prepare ii for publ
cation. For the years 1902 and 1909
there is now in sight material for at
least double the usual number of bull
letins.
The most important investigation
undertaken by the station since it was
organized, that of irrigation by pump
ing from wells, was started during the
year. While the work is at present
only at its beginning it bids fair to
bring large areas of fertile land into
cultivation in numerous valleys of the
territory.
The problems pertaining to irriga'
ton, the redemption of alkali soils and
the combating of orchard pests and es
pecially the codling moth are consid
cred the most important at present
to the people of the territory and the
greatest attention will be given them
Four regular bulletins, eighteen press
bulletins and the annual report were
issued during the year. Bulletins are
at present sent to 5000 readers.
Professor Arthur Goss, chemist al
the station. has carried on the worl
on the water supply of the territory
Samples of water taken from the Pc
J cos river and reservoirs were analysed
to determine the composition of water
at different seasons and stages of the
river. Samples of water from Other
streams and springs were also analyZ
ed. Particular attention was given tC
the composition of the ash of a nun
her of native plants growing on alkal
and other classes of soils. The results
of these experiments will be made
known in bulletin form. In co-opera
ton with the horticultural department
analysis were made of a number OF
apples from the station orchard which
had been sprayed with different kinds
of arsenic compounds in order to de
termine If any poison was left on the
mature fruit. A large number of analy.
sis of miscellaneous articles was
made.
The botanist, Professor E. o. Woot
en-, continued the study of native
trees and shrubs with the view of OBJ
tanning information on their probable
value as shade and forest trees. Ad-
dltional information was secured on
the methods of protecting ranges.
There was a general overhauling and
new classification of the herbarium,
The work of the soil department
conducted by Prof. j. D.. Tinsley, may
be classed as soil moisture, and gen.
eTal soil studies, alkali and drainage,
me%teorology and miscellaneous work
The month of August was spent by
the head of the department in the
Pecos valley giving advice as to al
kali and drainage conditions. The
greater portion of the month was
spent near Roswell and more requests
were received for advice than eveI
before. In the department of agri-
culture, Prof. j. j.. Vernon conducted
experiments with alfalfa, wheat, in
soil moisture. feeding and irrigation