The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-01-17
Research By State
To Improve Farms
Pays Big Dividends
Work in Wheat Alone An
nually Returns to Farmers
Half a Million Dollars
AID GIVEN IN OTHER CROPS

"The University of Maryland is moth
ing more nor less than correlation Of
services the State renders the people,"
said DR.. r. A. Pearson, President Of
the University in a recent speech.
Realizing this, one of the duties the
university undertakes is to carry on
research at the Experiment Station at
College Park for the betterment of
farms and farming conditions through
out the different sections of the state.
money expended for agricultural re-
search in Maryland is paying big
dividend DR.. H. j. Patterson, Director
of the Experiment Station said in a
recent interview, take the item of
wheat for instance:
"The experimental work carried on
in wheat by the University of Mary
land is of increasing value to the
farmer. The Mammoth Red, variety
of wheat developed by the Experiment
Station is the best variety being grown
throughout the State of Maryland and
was first distributed to the farmers in
1922. 1t is q variety especially hardy in
resisting wheat diseases and has shown
an increased yield of two bushels an
acre over the ordinary varieties in
both good and bad years.
"Recent surveys show that this
Maryland wheat is being grown on
more than SO per cent of the 100000
acres of wheat land in the State and
is bringing to the wealth of the State
an increase of at least $4,000 each
year. In this item alone the university
has repaid the State many times over
the amount expended for the research"
One Of the next steps taken by the
State university for the botterment of
farming was q survey OF the brands"
Of fertilizers being used in Maryland
at that time. When the first inventory
was taken in 1923, there were over 200
different brands of fertilizers. 1t was
found that 81 per cent of these were
low grade. That year, after a study of
the different types the university listed
twelve as sufficient to meet the needs
of the farmers, and just five years
later more than throe-quarters of the
fertilizers sold in the State were of the
higher grade. Farmers found them
selves buying the same amount of
plant foods but with less bulk.
In this way they were saved more
than 100000 annually in lower costs
of freight, saving on bags and labor of
handling, all of which had been low
cred per cent on the average farmers
fertilizer bill.
J Next came experimental work in
barley and corn, two Of Marylands i'm
portant crops ard farmer incomes.
The Winter Barley experiments are be-
ing carried on to develop a new grain
which will not have the Objectionable
barbs of that now being grown. If sue
cessful, much will be saved in time and
waste of growing and harvesting.
"This experiment must be carried on
over period of eight growing seasons
before definite conclusions can be
reached. 1t gives an idea of the neces-
sity of long experiments and is job
not within the scope OF the ordinary
commercial farmer but necessitating
the work Of an expert plant breeder"
Il would conservatively estimate
that the annual increase in the corn,
wheat, forage, vegetable and fruit
crops resulting from the Maryland
Stations investigations, are greater
than the total that the State has ex-
pended in agricultural education and
research" Said DR.. Patterson in clos
ing his remarks.
From the University of Maryland
Egg Laying Contest much interesting
material has come to light. Compare
sons of records of the three contests
completed and the fourth now in opera
ton show a decided and gradual i'm.
provement in the performances of the
birds; according to Professor R. H.
Waite who is in charge of the contests.
mot only has production increased but
breeder interest also shows an i'm
provement, though there has been
tendency on the part of some to hold
back from the competition for fear
their birds will not show up we'll.
In the 1927 figures, the Leghorns
were found to be the cheapest egg pro-
ducers having an average of 1914
cents per dozen.
Experiments have been carried on in
the poultry department to determine
methods for controlling white diar-
rhea and much interesting material
has been gathered. Test work on a
flock of twenty birds is being carried
on.
Other points of interest in this study
include housing and management. Al.
though facilities are somewhat cramp-
ed for most efficient Roadway right at
present, it is hoped that within the
next few years a full time caretaker
and other needs will be supplied SO
the work can be carried on on more
efficient basis.