The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-09
PURDUE USES
$500 ACRES
FOR FARMING
Tracts in Various Parts Of
Indiana Developed
Scientifically.
GET PRACTICAL POINTS
Students Obtain Data in
Actual Work of
Agriculture.

BV MA Scrrice
LAFAYETTE, Ind. MAY 9-One
Of the largest farming institutions
i'm Indiana. if not in the United
States, is Purdue university. It sets
p typical example Of what many
similar colleges throughout the
country are doing for the present I
and future generations of farmers. !
This college owns 5000 acres of
farm land in different sections of
the state A large tract in the i'm
mediate vicinity is laboratory for
students use in which science is
mixed with practical methods. The
remaining territory scattered
throughout the state is used for eX-
tension and research work
The work of the agricultural
school is two-foId. In addition to
instructing young men who have
selected agriculture as their career,
il keeps men who are already en-
gagged in agriculture supplied with
up-to-the-minute farming informa-
tion.
At the school where agriculture
has been part of the curriculum
for forty years, 28O acres have been
fitted with modern buildings hOus-
ing pure bred cattle, principal
breeds of sheep, flOcks Of poultry,
swine, draft horses and herds of
pure bred beef cattle.
This tract has been used for eX-
perimental work of the students
They have built up the herds and
flocks there from a few head of
cattle and a small flock of poultry
to one of the largest groups in the
country.
Everything Scientific
Feeding, management, breeding
and care of these farm animals are
studied. Charts of production are
kept. All this information is alb
sorbed for practical use Of students
when they start farming on their
own.
Within a short distance from the
university is a seventeen-aCre poul-
try farm which is operated COM
mercially. Then there is a dairy
farm of ITS acres. a livestock farm
of 400 acres, a fruit farm OF 120
acres and a soils and crops farm
OF 12O acres.
Each of these tracts offers prac-
teal experience to the students.
Some students working their way
through the university find en-
ployment on these plots.
Not only is the experimental
work carried on at the school,
The different tracts throughout the
state. each of different character,
are developed by the school,
Much Land Reclaimed
A large tract of the once famous
Kankakee marsh in the northern
part of the state has been re
claimed and put under cultivation.
The hilly section of southern In
diana is also under experiment in
certain sections. Near Bedford, the
famous building stone section, a
tract of land which was practically
worthless fifteen years ago, has been
improved by the school until it now
produces thousands Of dollars worth
of crops and livestock.
These different tracts are visited
by students at intervals. They be-
come a laboratory for the budding
farmers for a time. offering new
problems to be solved and new
knowledge for future reference.
Facts and information gathered
at these extension plots and at the
university are, through the medium
of an extension force, carried to
more than 100000 Indiana farmers
and their families, thus making
available the universitys knowledge
80 any farmer in any section of the
state.
Achievements Listed
An idea of the university's ex-
tension activities may be had from
the following facts:
A soil survey now being made
will ultimately cover the entire
state. Results of this survey will
make available to every farmer in
formation on his soil and instruc-
tions for improvement of it.
The school inspected pit fields of
grain. totaling SAL acres, and I'll
100 bushels of superior seed were
made available for farmers.
Twenty special Soybean field
meetings were held with an attend
ance Of 1903 farmers.
Lime, legume and soil fertility
problems were discussed before 25,-
$50 farmers.
Sixteen machinery schools and
two tractor schools were conducted
by the school demonstrating how
expenses could be reduced and edu-
eating farmers in the proper care
and repair of machinery.
Entire State Benefited
More than 1900 blue prints were
provided 100 farmers on rural archi-
lecture.
Regular and emergency informa-
ton on insect and animal pest prob
lens has been given through letters,
the press and radio.
Proved sire work has been con-
Quoted in thirty-six counties and 307
pure bred sireS have been placed
with farmers.
More than 100000 ears Of corn