Phoenix tribune., 1919-06-07
Professor Thompson Tells Story Of Progress

"The Salt River Valley Experiment
Farm has been in operation approx
mately three years. Three years is
short time to definitely work out many
agricultural problems, and the knowl-
edge and information gained from this
farm has, in many instances, gone far
beyond the borders of the state.
"It is and has been the purpose Of
this experiment farm to work in
friendly sympathy and cooperation
with the farmers of this state. 1t is
the purpose of the farm to get the
! Information the farmers want ana get
II before they want it-then when they
ask US questions give them freely all
the information at our command. It
is our purpose to determine the varie.
ties of crops that are best suited to
Arizona conditions and to determine
methods of planting, handling, harvest.
ing and using these crops to the best
advantage. When these things have
been determined the information has
been given to the farmers, in some cas-,
es by bulletins or pamphlets describ.
ing the work accomplished, in some
cases by meetings held at the farm
and in a great number of cases this
Information has been given in response
to telephone calls and visits Of farm
ers to the farm itself.
During the three years that this
farm has been in operation it has dis
tributed to the farmers Of the state
choice milo seed to plant 1000 acres,
enough Hegari seed to plant 1000 ac-
res, enough Sacaton June corn to plant
250 acres. enough Early Baart wheat
to plant 1000 acres, and enough six
row barley to plant 5000 acres. In addi-
ton small quantities of considerable
number of other varieties OF seed have
been distributed. t
"a large number of varieties OF
crops have been tested and compared
with one another. Two varieties of
barley have been thoroughly tried out
and the average yield secured from
them has been better than so bushels
per acre. Two varieties of oats have
been tested, and while this years crop
has not been threshed, the average Of
the two previous years give yield
above 95 bushels per acre.
"At least nine varieties of wheat
have been tested The average yield
Of these wheat varieties has been
twice the average yield of wheat for
Arizona as reported by the U. S. crop
reporter. Four varieties of field peas
have been tested, 16 varieties of COW
peas, 16 varieties OF soy beans, nine
varieties Of corn, six varieties of sorg-
huns, more than 20 varieties of flax,
two varieties Of cotton, 13 varieties
of vetch and a large number of mis-
cellaneous crops, such as buckwheat,
horse beans, rape, castor beans, per
lila and many otherS.
"An experimental orchard has just
been planted on the farm. This orchard
contains more than 500 varieties of
fruits and nuts. Although this orchard
work is new and no definite results
have been obtained to date, it will, we
believe, in few years, save the fruit
growers of the Salt River valley and
Arizona many thousands of dollars
"Those in charge Of the farm have
/ at all times tried to be progressive
and up to date and have tried to bring
into general use those farm practices
that have promised to be most success.
full in this state. This experiment farm
was one of the earliest growers Of Su.
dan grass here. One of the first fields
of hairy Peruvian alfalfa in this Sec
tion of Arizona was planted here on
this experiment farm and this farm
has persistently and consistently ad-
vocated the growing OF hairy Peru
Wan alfalfa in this valley.
Realizing the enormous loss to
farmers that occurs from the damage
of small grains by the various smut
diseases, this farm has consistently
advocated and practised the control
of smut by means of the formaldehyde
treatment. On the farm today you will