River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-01-25
University Establishes
Experiment Farms.

In order to make the results of its
experiments of as wide-reaching APP
plication as possible, the University
of Wisconsin experimental station
has just established three experiment
tai farms in northern Wisconsin.
ADOPTS NEW PLAN.
Since in other states the plan Of
establishing sub-stations by purchas-
ing land and erecting buildings has
not met with unqualified success, it
seemed advisable in Wisconsin to
follow another plan, that of
establishing experimental farms for
particular purposes.
SELECTED NORTHERN WISCONSIN
AT the urgent request of the
Northern Wisconsin Farmers asso-
citation, it was decided 10 undertake
the study of agricultural conditions
of this region at once. After care
full examination of this portion of
the state three sites were selected,
one near Superior, another near
Ashland and third in the sandy
soil in the vicinity of Iron River.
STUDY THE SOILS.
The selection of the farms was al
so based on the character of the soil
represented in each tract. There
are in this region two distinct types
of soil; first, the heavy red clay of
Lucrustine origin covering most of
the region for considerable distance
around both Superior and Ashland;
and second, coarse, sandy soil cover
ing large area extending from a
short distance north of Iron River
southwest to the St. Croix river.
Each of these types of soil presents
its own peculiar problems to farm
ers.
TO DRAIN CLAY SOIL.
The first step toward the i'm
provement of this clay soil is to sub
drain it by tile. Eight acres of the
county poor farm at Superior, por
ton of which was leased for expert
mental purposes, has just been tiled
in order to carry on the investiga-
ton.
TO PRODUCE CLOVER SEED.
Another line along which demon
stration will be made is that of pro-
ducing clover seed. AT present
practically no clover seed is pro-
duced in this northern section. The
high price of clover seed prevents
many farmers from using it as they
would otherwise in a way that
would yield financial returns from
hay produced, as we'll as increase
the fertility and improve the filth of
the soil.
THE ASHLAND FARM.
An excellent location has been Sc
cured two miles east of Ashland,
on the Ellis avenue road. The
Business Mems club of Ashland,
like that of Superior, has been very
helpful in securing this site and fav-
orable conditions for its occupancy.
The peninsular projecting into Lake
Superior presents conditions pecu-
liarly favorable to the growth Of
fruit trees as do also the Apostle
Islands, and an experimental orchard
will in all probability be established
somewhere in this region.
FOR VEGETABLES AND SMALL
FRUITS.
AS crops on this clay soil in this
region are late, it is proposed to
raise vegetables and small fruits for
sale in the markets of the cities to
the south within shipping distance
after the local supply of these cities
has been exhausted. That the soil
is naturally very fertile is shown by
the large crops Of hay raised on it
when proper conditions of moisture
obtain. Green crops will also be
turned under to improve the physi-
cal condition of the soil by supplying
large amounts of humus.
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