The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-01-10
IA GREETING
FROM FORT HAYS

- hSNtSNf~F4 ISNt~ ~
NAMED TO continue the mutual
warfare with the farm problems
OF our region. The Fort Hays
Experiment Station extends greet
ings for the New year.
The first decade in the history
Of this institution is just cCnclud-
ed and a new era is being launch
ed from the experiences.of the first
pioneer years. Mistakes have
been made. Expectations have
not been fully realized. Officials
have frequently changed. Nor has
the experiment station demon.
strated, from opinions now cur
rent, the fullest cooperation nov
essential to the larger interests Of
all who should benefit by its work
This has not been the fault Of the
station officials, nor Of the people
whom its work should serve
Rather has it been the result Of
insufficient and real contact; the
station with the wants of the farm-
er and the farmer with the faclli-
lies afforded ut the station for
investigation Of the problems both
desire to be solved. This state OF
affairs should be the immediate
concern of every industrious
builder in our western empire.
The two agencies most potent to
bring about a thorough knowl.
edge Of mutual opportunities are
correspondence and personal OBJ
servation.
The problems Of successful
farming under the prevailing ir-
regularities of Climate Of Western
Kansas is one Of such proportions
that it should hardly be expected
Of the work of the experiment
station, in its first ten years, to
unquestionably establish perfect
methods. Too many factors are
involved; some of them uncon-
trollable. 1t is apparent that the
work accomplished in the ten
pioneering years of the stations
history have taught many farm
men the advantages Of improved
seed; thorough farming of limited
areas rather than haphazzard man
agement of numerous acres; the
important asset Of livestock as a
necessary feature of successful
farm operation; and the economic
adjustment of the harvest Of boun-
teous years to tide over the disas.
ter of the season of drouth.
These, and other lessons of mi
nor detail, are part of the results
set forth during the ten year per-
iod the Hays Branch Station is
Just concludings IN, which period,
also, it was converting $500 acres
of virgin prairie sod and bottom
into an educational institution, es-
tablishing thereon equipment for
investigating those problems the
successful solution of which is es-
sential to the we'll being of q vast
population now inhabiting, and to
inhsbit, the Great Plains Regior.
This is a work, not for one man,
nor corps of men engaged 10 an
official capacity at the station, but
for the cooperation of these, as
leaders, with all observing work
ers in actual contact with the con-
ditions on this farm, its work and
development. To accomplish this,
united effort both by letter and in
person should be the idea OF CO.
operation. The Board of Regents
has recently urged this and loo i
authorities wish to extend the
scope Of the stations facilities.
The Fort Hays Station announc.
es the appointment of a new man.
ager, who takes charge at the
threshold Of the second decade of
its progress. This official, having
served for eight years in a minor
capacity at Hays, has bad oppOr-
tunity to observe the development
of the institution, realize its strug-
gle with problems new to its off