150 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPEIUMENT STATIONS. 



ducted to show the possibility oi" using to advantage cured alfalfa 

 hay in the s\\ inc i-ations, and the results show that growing pigs of 

 90 pounds or upwind will make satisfactory gains on a ration of 

 approxinuitely one-half wheat and one-half alfalfa hay. For young 

 pigs, however, dry alfalfa was not satisfactory. 



In agronomy the principal work taken up was some new experi- 

 ments with barley. This is one of the most important grains raised 

 in the State, and detailed information of varieties suitable for feeding 

 and brewing and the best cropping systems with barley, promises to 

 be of nnich value to the people. Tests are being made of sweet clover 

 (Melilotus), Avhich grows well at that altitude and on very alkaline 

 and poor soils. It is thought to be a fine high-altitude plant, and 

 experiments will be made in curing it with salt so that cattle will 

 eat it. Considerable w^ork is being done w^th turnips and ruta-bagas, 

 as these have given such good results in the feeding experiments, and 

 potatoes are being grown with seed from different localities to avoid 

 Rhizoctonia. The main part of the farm is being used to grow large 

 crops of alfalfa and peas to be used in the station's feeding experi- 

 ments. 



The most important investigations newly inaugurated by the station 

 have been studies of the high altitude native and cultivated grasses 

 and forage plants. These studies include ration experiments, experi- 

 ments to determine digestibility, and studies of chemical composition. 

 The digestion experiments carried out indicate that alfalfa raised 

 above 7,000 feet altitude has a higher coefficient of digestibility than 

 shown by trials in other places. A small amount of irrigation work 

 was done in cooperation with this Office, and some varieties of flax 

 were grown in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry. The 

 last legislature passed three bills of interest to the station, one appro- 

 priating $2,000 for farmers' institutes and short courses during the 

 next two years under the control of the agricultural department of 

 the university ; another providing a "fund of $2,000 for horticultural 

 experiments at Lander, which will be under the control of the director 

 of the station and two others, and a third bill establishing a State 

 horticultural society and making the botanist and zoologist of the 

 station an ex-officio member of that board. 



The feeling toward the station in the State is good, and it is gaining 

 a strong hold on the people. This is evidenced by the success of the 

 short courses, which have been operated for two winters very largely 

 through the efforts of the station, and have attracted large and enthu- 

 siastic attendance. These have been practically protracted farmers' 

 institutes at the experiment station. The outlook for the station is 

 unusually good. It needs to expand its work and take up some other 

 departments, but there will be difficulty in doing this unless additional 

 funds can be secured. 



