NEW MEXICO. 105 



NEW MEXICO. 

 Agricultural Experiment Station of New Mexico, AgricuUnial Colleger 

 Department of New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. 



LuTHEB Foster. M. S. A., Director. 

 GENERAL OrTLOOK. 



The invest ipfat ion of problems in irrigation and closely related 

 work has claimed the greatest attention at the New Mexico Station 

 during the past year. Among the specific investigations are those 

 on the cost of pumping for different crops, the relative efficiency of 

 different pumps, soil moisture in relation to irrigation and to under- 

 ground drainage, the rise and fall of underground water (in coopera- 

 tion with the Reclamation Service of the U. S. Geological Surve}'), 

 and the effect of well water on different crops. The irrigation inves- 

 tigations are in cooperation with this Office, The station is also 

 investigating forage problems on the ranges and is cooperating with 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry in a study of cacti as forage and in a 

 study of cactus fruits as food for man or beast. The indications are 

 that some varieties of this fruit will be found excellent for food. In 

 l)()th the fresh and dry state it is already a staple article of diet among 

 the natives in some localities. Some varieties have excellent flavor 

 and contain a large percentage of sugar. A good quality of jelly 

 and marmalade has been made from certain varieties by the domestic 

 science department of the college, and even the fruits which have 

 an insipid taste in the fresh condition make good jelly, which 

 can be rendered quite firm by the addition of a small amount of apple 

 juice. The large amount of sugar, in some cases amounting to as 

 much as 10 or 12 per cent, renders it unnecessary to add more than 

 about half the usual quantity used in the preparation of fruit 

 products generally. 



The horticultural work includes numerous experiments with vege- 

 tables, studies of plant diseases and disease-resistant plants. The 

 jjurchase of 23 acres of land for horticultural purposes makes it pos- 

 sible to extend the work along these lines considerably. The college 

 has also purchased a farm of 250 acres, 100 acres of which is capable 

 of irrigation. This will make it possible to place the irrigation 

 investigations on a lar er and more reliable scale, and will also 

 furnish pasturage for cattle when they are not under experiment. 



The station, in making special features of its irrigation and forage 

 crop investigations, will undoui)tedly be of great service in develop- 

 ing practices adapted to the local conditions. The po.ssession of 



o Telegraph address, Las Cruccs; express and freight address, Meailla Park. 



