Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-06-13
Grand Celebration ef July Fourth at Warren

sltied and alphabetically arranged un-
der forty headings.
An interesting course in elemental
agriculture was commenced with the
eighth grade pupils during the cur.
rent semester They enjoy the work
and show a pleasing attitude towards
it. -
A warning was sent out by the de.
partment as to the poor condition Of
the seed corn this spring, and it re-
quested the farmers to bring in their
corn for testing. AS a consequences
several farmers availed themselves Of
the opportunity, thus making the de.
partment an immediate practical
value to them.
The department has under it's
charge about seventeen acres Of land
for experimental and school garden
purposes. Twelve acres of these it
owns and the remainder is leased.
Several interesting, valuable, and in.
structive experiments are now under
way. It is thought best first to do
something of practical nature in
the rotation of crops. To the mind
of the director the salient weakness
of the farming contingency served by
the department is the serious lack Of
systematic crop rotation and lack
Of an appreciation for good seed, es-
pecially corn. In accordance with
such view nine acres of land has
been taken and divided into three
equal parts and three different crop
rotations started; one covering three
years; one five years and one seven
years.
The object will be to determine by
the yield in crops, the success of the
crops, the handling of the weed ques-
tion, and the condition of the soil at
various times which one or ones is
of greatest value to this section
In the matter of encouragement in
the use of good seed corn one acre
breeding plot has been started in
Minnesota No. % corn. The plot is
to be run in connection with the Min
nesota Experiment Station under the
direction of Prof c. P Bull. The OBJ
ject will be to raise pure bred corn
that will mature maximum number
of seasons, and to sell it's seed to the
farmers at moderate prices. One
acre Of uniform soil has been select
ed, plated to one-tenth acre plots,
and is being devoted to a complete
fertility test which will cover five
years or more. The object being to
find out truths or pertinent facts con-
cerning the exact status of the fertil-
ity of these soils.
The following treatments are ap-
piled to the soils of the different
plots:
Plot No. 1. No treatment
Plot No. g. 80 lbs. of acid calcium
phosphate.
Plot No. 8. 20 lbs. of potassium sui
phate.
Plot No. f. 30 lbs. of sodium nitrate
Plot No. 5. No treatment.
Plot No. 6. 1000 lbs. farm yard ma
nure.
Plot No. Z. 400 lbs. limestone.
Plot No. 8. 400 lbs. limestone and
sc lbs acid phosphate.
Plot No. 9. go lbs. complete fertiliz-
er.
Plot No. 10. No treatment.
At the end Of five or six years it
will be quite evident which one of
these treatments has done any prac-
tical financial good to the soil. An
accurate statement is being kept Of
the cost Of each, and all returns in
crops will de definitely computed. A
systematic rotation of crops is plan
ned for this plot. It covers five years
and began with corn this year.
Besides having about Ia acre de-
voted to school gardens there is about
/ one acre in alfalfa which now in its
second season is looking well and
bids fair to be success. 1t has an
abundance of tubercles on it's roots
and withstood the severe winter in
excellent condition. A small patch
was sown this spring to new and
hardy variety of alfalfa known as
"the Grimms."
On some of the leased land we have
La small plot of northwestern dent
corn which is being bred for seed
also some popcorn and barley.
4 During the remainder Of the spring
and summer, the work Of the agricul
|tural director will be confined largel.
to visiting the country school garden,
land to pushing along the extension
work among the farmers.