The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-22
Progress Shown in Santa Fe Elk
perimentaI Farms.
Texas Officials DevOting Efforts
in That Direction.
DEMONSTRATIONS MADE
To Show What Soil win Produce
to Advantage.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railway Circles.

General Superintendent Pettibone,
General Freight Agent Hershey and
General Passenger Agent Keenan, of the
Santa F'e are spending their leisure mo-
naents and burning midnight oil reading
up and studying agriculture, horticul-
ture and other culture preparatory to
making a report upon the establishment
of the experiment farms along the road,
says the Galveston Tribune. The estab-
lishment of these farms, which may
better be described as demonstration
stations is a settled fact and to the
above officials has been delegated the
work of starting the good work. Two
carloads of farming literature and sam
pies of all kinds of vegetables, fruits
and other crops arrived yesterday for
the Farmers Three The fruit was
quickly disposed of to good advantage,
the literature will be and is being care
fully persued while the Farmers
Three" are acquainting themselves with
the vegetables and their names and how
to distinguish one from the other at first
glance.
But the farms are to be established
and the proposition promises much not
only as an advertising feature and an
lnducement to bring settlers to Texas
but as most valuable educational in
stitute for the farmers and truck grow
ers along the Santa Fe and other por-
ident and general manager, stated to
Tribune representative that he had al
ready received several communications
from interested parties asking where
these demonstration or experimental
stations are to be eSta bliShed. The plan
is to first eSta bliSh farms of small ac-
reage either on the conpany's right of
way, where space permits, or on land
leased or purchased close to the track
and where possible either in the towns
or close thereby. It is proposed to eS-
tabliSh a number of these stations at
different points on the gulf lines and
to place practical farmer in charge.
Here the farmers Will be given a prac-
teal demonstration of just what the
soil in that particular section will pro-
duce with proper cultivation. Every
kind of fruit, vegetable and the larger
crops will be given a test and all the
farmer or any one else interested has
to do is to consult the man in charge
and inspect the farm. If a man wants
to engage in potato growing he need
not experiment for himself but can as
certain the actual results by visiting the
Santa Fe demonstration farm and it
will cost him nothing for the learning.
People travelling through Texas will be
given an opportunity of studying the
resources and productions of the state,
even from the car windows. 1t is ex-
pected the farms will work in harmony
with the colonization plans of the Santa
Fe and in general build up the country
and the railroad and the producers of
this great southwest.
In discussing the movement which
will be in operation in time for all the
summer crops Col. Nixon said that it is
anticipated to later establish larger
farms of say 100 acres, that a thorough
and practical demonstration of the Gull
tivation of the larger crops, such as
corn, alfalfa, etc, may be enjoyed. And
the good work is not to stop at this but
to be extended to trees. All kinds of
trees will be experimental with for
shade, fruit and timber purposes. Ger
tain kinds of trees and shrubbery that
thrive in one section of the state will |
not prosper in another portion.
The Farmers Three are about to
decide upon several locations or sites |
of these farms at different points along |
the road and will proceed to get them
in working order at once. Great things
are promised for this movement and the !
farmers along the line are becoming |
very much interested. Considerable riv- |
airy exists all along the line among the !
many towns and sections anxious to /
have one of the farms. But they will /
be established at the most advantage
GUS points regardless of the popularity