The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-07

u. S. Expert;
Near MQndQ,
Scores Of important Facts
About Northwest Crops
Have Been Uncovered
Construction Of buildings at the u.
s. Northern Great Plains field sta
ton, south Of Mandan, was begun in
February, 1913. having been author
lied by an act Of congress passed In
1912.
At the present time. the station
has IL buildings, eight Of which are
Of brick construction, and has under
control 100 acres Of land, 500 acres
Of which are under cultivation.
The station Is operated by the d.
vision Of dry land agriculture. bu-
reau Of plant industry, U. 8. depart
ment Of agriculture, with John NJ.
Stephens as superintendent.
An appropriation for maintenance
Of this station was eliminated from
the bill presented to Congress early
this year but was restored almost i'm
mediately, SO great was the support
for this station and its valuable work.
The staff at the station includes
seven scientifically trained men, who
are q part Of the division Of dry land
agriculture, and two men Of the d.
vision Of cereal crops and diseases.
In addition, five men and one woman
are employed the year around, while
Is to 80 are employed during the
summer months.
There are three general fields or
lines Of investigation which have been
In progress since the station was in
stituted: Aboriculture, which investi-
gates the growing Of trees and their
production for shelter belt demon
stration with farmers In four states:
horticulture, which deals with fruits,
vegetables and ornamentals; and
agronomy, which deals with farm
crops, such as rotation and tillage
methods with farm crops, testing for
age crops, cereal crops, and the COOP
erative grazing experiment, which u
concerned with the native range In
relation to its value for grazing beef
cattle.
Many Contributions Made
Among contributions to the agri-
culture Of the northern great plains
made by the station during the last
20 years are listed the following:
Actual establishment OF 3,841 farm
shelterbelts by Mandan station.
Demonstration that garden and
small fruit orchards can be grown
profitably for home consumption Ia
North Dakota.
Development Of ow-headed or bush
form trees superior to high-headed
trees.
Demonstration that thinning fruit
when heavy crop sets not only re-
suits in better fruit the current year,
but prevents weakening Of tree and
consequent winter injury.
Proved that planting in. protected
coulees desirable to. exposed hillside.
Breeding work with fruits has re-
suited in selection of two apples.
four crabapples, four plums, two
sandcherries, two chokecherries, four
golden currants and three gooseber-
ries that appear promising enough to
DO named and set out.
Successful working system Of crop
rotation with vegetables has been
worked out and demonstrated for Il
years.
Breeding work with tomatoes has
produced four new strains that are
early productive, disease-resistant and
Of good quality.
Several shrub species found out
standingly successful under special
treatment. such as hybrid lilacs and
japanese roses on their own roots.
Results obtained with summer fall
low show that wheat will average n
bushels per acre on clear summer fall
low, II blowing for fallow Is done BY
June /.
Made Whea4grass Famous
Outstanding results obtained with
crested wheatgrass ct this station
brought the grass from obscurity Il
national and international promin-
ence.
A strain Of Northwestern dent corn
known as the "Mandan strain" hal
been developed.
a strain Of Rainbow Flint corn hal
been developed. and put on market.
Results show that seven acres Of
native range viii Craze q steer foa
five months under . system Of con.
tinuous grazing.
Results show that grazing capacity
Of range may be increased by apply
ing . system Of deferred and rota-
ton grazing.
Proved that with sufficient feed
for grazing beet STEERS will gain 30(
pounds Per bead during five months
ON native range.
Variety Of flax known Is New
land" was developed ct this station.
Mandan station was one Of first x
test and show value Of Ceres wheat
which now u grown over large area
New hybrids Of wheat developed
show promise Of being superior 4
varieties now grown.
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