The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-10
ITS NEEDS Are SET FORTH
More Buildings and Appliances Re-
quired to Place 1t on Good
Working Basis.

leup1dleu Ill us e"SCaDllSnment, sew
eral more buildings with necessary
equipments are needed by the expert
ment station conducted in connection
with he state agricultural college.
So says Professor F. B. Linfeld, acting
director, in his yearly report to the
executive board and by that body
in turn submitted to the state board
OF education. With these additions
the station will be placed on a good
working basis.
Following are excerpts from the re-
port:
Is Developing Rapidly.
"Agriculturally, the state is develop
ing rapidly, and l believe this develop
ment will continue. In a new state.
with new and varied conditions arts.
ing, and with an increasing popula-
tlon, also new to the agricultural
conditions which here prevail, the sta
ton is being called upon to take the
lead in solving the problems as they
arise. From the necessities of the
case we must in a large masure lead
in the agricultural development. To
do this we must have the facilities
for the work; the men and the euuip.
ment. l trust that in this request for
further facilities we shall have your
support and the support of the people
OF the state.
The agricultural department has
been somewhat handicapped during
the year, as the head of the depart
ment, in addition to the regular duties
OF the department, has been acting
director with the responsibilities and
duties growing out of that office. No
new lines of work have been under.
taken by the department., but the es-
tablished lines have been maintained
and extended.
Feeding and Dairy Work.
1.-The experiments in feeding sheep
and steers have been conducted with
very satisfactory results. The crop
ping rotation on the farm has been
arranged SO as to simplify the work
and afford opportunity for the exten.
sion of our experiments with field
crops and irrigation work. Another
season will see these plans fully ma.
tured and in operation.
"A herd of dairy cows is being pur-
chased and the beginning of the next
fiscal year will see the work with
dairy productions in full operation,
1t is gratifying to note that already
the results of our work in dairying
is being felt. Three new factories
are contemplated in various parts of
the state and quite an active interest
is being taken in our dairy work at
the college.
chronological Department.
THE work of the chronological de-
partment has grown in the confidence
OF the people during the year. An
outbreak of grasshoppers in the east
ern part of the state led to large calls
on the department for information
on methods OF control. A thorough in
v~estigation Of the infected district
was made, and an attempt to control
or destroy the pest, though with
what success cannot be determined.
The study of the life history of the
cooling moth has been continued, and
notes made On other destructive in
sects.
Work in Irrigation.
THE work of the irrigation depart
ment has progressed along the lines
laid down by Professor Fortier last
spring. The department has co-ope-
rated with Professor Mead of the
United States department of agricul-
ture in the study of the irrigation
problems of the state. In the Bitter
Root and Yellowstone valleys observa-
lions were continued on the duty of
water under several irrigation canals.
In the Yellowstone valley studies
were also made on the level of the
soil water on the alkali lands of the
valley.
In Cascade county plans we're laid
for experiments on the construction
OF small farmers dams and also for
work in the early spring and late fall
irrigations. For the coming year the
cooperation with Professor Mead will
be continued and the state engineer
has asked for cooperation in the
study of the available water supply
of Gallatin valley"