The Lamar register., 1904-07-20
TIE FARM AND RANGE
Experiment Stations.


Colorado and stations in New Mexi-
co and Wyoming, says:
1.-The Colorado station has continued
lines of work formerly in progress,
giving considerable attention to irri-
cation Investigations, the utilization of
by-products of the sugar beet and hor-
ticultural investigations. The chem
list has. made digestion experiments
with sheep on coarse folders, and the
agricultural soiling experiments with
COWS and feeding experiments with
pigs. The results of number of feed
ing experiments with cows, pigs and
lambs have been published. The chem
ist is also studying the changes in the
composition and character OF the SOL
ids and sediment of irrigation waters
at different stages, and also in stored
water. The horticultnrist is studying
the Rhizoctonia OF potatoes-the cause
of large tops and no tubers, and CON
ducting a number of experiments in
cooperation with a large number of
farmers to secure varieties resistant
to RhizoCtonia. He is also conducting
cooperative experiments with fertiliZ-
ers for fruit trees. The experiments
now include Investigations of the glu-
ten content of wheat sugar beet in
vestigations, the influence of environ
nrent on the sugar content of musk
melons, and the available plant food
in soils with the bureau of chemistry;
Investigations of the conditions and
limitations incident to the extension
of the dairying industry in the short
grass country between the MISSISSIPPI
valley and the Rocky mountains with
the bureau of animal industry. On the
farm the breeding and selection OF
macaroni wheats have been given at
tention, and there have also been eX-
periments with varieties of wheat in
the San Luis valley to secure an ear
lier rfpening variety. Range expert
ments have been in progress on tract
belonging to the college farm.
The Cheyenne Wells farm is also
leased. The station maintains two
field agents, one in the Arkansas val
ley and one on the plains, who have
been doing considerable useful work
in practical way and in the dissemin-
alton of Information. the collection or
data etc. A reservoir with an area or
fifty acres and an inlet for conducting
storm water from an extensive water
shed have been under construction
during the year, and structure Tor
a central heating plant is nearing
completion. The last legislature made
an appropriation of 100000 for build
rigation engineering at the college, in
which provision will also he made for
the office of the station director. Sew
eral changes in the station stan, es-
pecially among the assistants, have oc-
CURED during the year. The vacancy
in the position of professor of agricul-
ture in the college and agriculturist
of the station has been filled by the
election of w. l.. Carlyle, of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin. The director oil
the station has been made state irri-
CATION engineer, but still retains his
position in the station.
The Colorado station has investiga-
tions of considerable Importance in
progress. The most extensive and i'm
portant problems under consideration
are those relating to irrigation. and 1t
is much to be desired that nothing
shall interfere with the vigorous and
systematic prosecution of these inyes-
legations. The farm operations of this
station need to be more fully put un-
der the control of its expert officers.
Lack of funds has compelled the sta
ton TO restrict its work in number
of directions, including especially hor.
ticulture and animal husbandry, and it
is hoped that means may be provided
soon for extending the work of the sta
The principal lines of work conduct
ed at the Colorado station during the
past wear were as follows: Chemistry.
analysis of soils and irrigation waters.
sugar beet investigations, studies OF
methods of analyZing, feeding stuns,
etc: field experiments. variety tests
of wheat and oats for different alti-
tudes: horticulture; diseases of plants;
entomology, study of the coddling
moth, grasshoppers, various borers
and leaf rollers. cutworms and insects
working on sugar beets and canta-
loupes; irrigation, use of water, meas
urements of losses from bitches, stud
les of means for economizing water,
measurements of seepage on the
Platte. the Arkansas, the Rio Grande
and their tributaries.
The income of the station during the
past fiscal year is given as Sl5,l2T.I2,
of which $4,000 was given by Con.
gress, s133.67 derived from farm
products and s994.05 from miscella-
neous sources.
The work of the New Mexico expert
ment station at Mesilla Park, New
Mexico, is also covered. Its income is
given as s17.615, of which Congress
donated $4,000, the Legislature $3.50,
and 81 ,S65.91 was obtained from farm
products.
The principal lines of work conduct
ed at the New Mexico station during
the past year were as follows: Chem
istry, chemical survey of the waters OF
the territory, analytical work, study OF
the ash of native plants; field expert
ments. alfalfa, grasses for lawns and
pastures. cereals, soil renovators, for
age crops; soils; feeding experiments
with dairy cows, steers and sheep TO
t3st the value of various grains and
forage crops for soiling and for dry
feed horticulture, culture, pruning,
...-a..ita. and irrigatinn of orchard.