Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-07-17

| dCIe, ana Lne year before JnaJ II
tons OF corn fodder was taken from
each acre of the field.
That early and deep cultivation
and packing is essential to the
production OF bumper crop is the
realization that must come to even
the novice who views the extensive
plots which are given over to eX-
perimentation in soil cultivation to
conserve moisture. The grain on
these plots, all of the same variety,
Hybrid 143, is now almost at the
harvest stage, and while exact fig
ures and percentages will not be
available until after the crop on
each plot is threshed and measured,
an intimatiOn of what the results
will show may be gained by compar-
ing the stand in the different plots.
These experiments cover three-year
test, different methods of cultivation
being followed each year. Most
noticeable in the different plots is
the advantage which the plots that
were packed show over those which
were not packed also the plots
which were plowed early show a
decided advantage in present stand
OF wheat over the late plowed plots.
Probably the premier plot of the en-
tire experiment is that which in
1912 was left in wheat stubble. The
year following it was plOwed early,
packed and later plowed again, and
now shows an almost phenomenal
stand of winter wheat, much better
than the adjoining plot on which the
same methods of tillage were EN-
ployed except that it was not packed
to conserve the moisture. Another
valuable deduction may be drawn
from the plot of winter wheat which
last year was allowed to grow up in
volunteer wheat. This plot shows
one of the poorest yields visible on
the entire farm and refutes the ar
gument of some farmers that a vol
to the crop which is harvested the
following year. On the plots which
were packed the wheat shows a
nitrogen content almost double that
OF the grain on the unpacked plots.
A careful account of the expense
Of tillage in all the different plots is
being kept and these results will
figure prominently in the results of
the entire experiments.
One of the best fields of corn ever
grown on the station farm is now
developing rapidly, and an excellent
yield is assured.
A visit to the model farm could
not but convince the observer that
the state funds devoted to the pur-
pose are well expended, and result in
big return to the farmer who takes
advantage of the results of the ex-
perimentation. The station experts
are always willing and ready to con-
duct visitors over the farm. Such a
trip is an education in itself, and
the person who does not avail him
self of the opportunity can not fully
realize the treat which he is denying
himself. The writer accompanied
Regent McCroskey on a tour Of the
farm Wednesday afternoon and
while only portion of the expert
ments could be observed in the lin
tied time, the trip sufficed to prove
that the ordinary person does not
realize to what great extent the
work to assist the farming class is
being carried on. The object and re-
suits of the experiments, so far as
they are visible, were fully ex-
planned by DR.. Ira d. Cardiff,
director of the station, Professor C.
c. Thorn, soils expert. and II. NJ.
Woolman, assistant smut investi-
gator.