XXX IvEPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 



Geriiiaii Kleinwanzlebiier. That sugar beets can be grown in tliis 

 State with profit has been amply demonstrated. We believe it was 

 largely due to experiments coiidncted by this Station that the 

 farmers of the State were induced to undertake the culture of suo-ar 



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beets. We shall make tests of leading varieties each year so that 

 we may keep in touch with the beet growing industry in the State. 



For the past eight years we have tested each year some six or 

 more of the leading varieties of wheat. Each year we have thrown 

 out the varieties which seemed least promising, retaining the best 

 and securing in part new varieties for the next year. The experi- 

 ments have been conducted in the regular farm wheat lield under 

 field conditions. In the fall of 1900 several varieties of wheat were 

 sent by Mr. Stone to each of nine farmers located in various sections 

 of the State. As a result of the experiments upon the home grounds 

 and the cooperation experiments during the past year we have found 

 that while the wheat throughout the State has been very generally 

 injured and in some cases completely destroyed by the Hessian fly, 

 the variety Dawson's Golden Chaff has withstood the attacks and in 

 all the tests has produced well. A bulletin giving observations upon 

 wheat varieties and their ability to withstand the attacks of the 

 Hessian fly is now in press. Buckwheat is one of the standard crops 

 of this State, and yet no investigations have been made to deter- 

 mine the best variety, or the conditions favorable to the crop. We 

 have secured nearly three acres of land on a farm some two' miles 

 from the University and are conducting experiments upon twenty- 

 five plats. In addition some ten or fifteen farmers are conducting 

 variety tests and making observations on ])uck\vlieat. We hope to 

 continue these experiments through a series of years until we shall 

 liave learned something definite about the crop and of its effect 

 upon soils. 



Some fourteen plats are being' devoted to soil renovation work. 

 I*art of these plats are located upon the University farm, and part 

 upon a farm some three miles away. The object sought is to 

 determine the best rotation and the best cover ci'ops to use with and 

 without commercial fertilizers, for the improvement of depleted 

 soils, and at the same time remove a crop from the land each year. 

 This work of necessity is slow in giving results, but eventually 



