188 RKroKT OK OFKICK OK KXTKRIMKNT STATIONS. 



STATION S'l'AI"!'". 



J. A. Widtsdo, Pii. D., rUrrclnr; Chnnisl. .]. A. C'rockott, Ass-lstnni Doirifmnn. 



.Iniin's |)rvilt'ii. .MiirornlofjlKl, I'lui/tri/ Mmi- HolicH Stcwarl, Assisldiil Chfnilxl. 



ni/ii: William Janlinc, Assi.^lmil AijrtmoiniM. 



L. A. Merrill, M. S., Af^roiunnist. J. I'.. Nelson, Fana Foreman. 



W. N. Iliitt. \^. S. A., JIorliniltnriM. Julin Hopkins, Foreman of Pmdtrii DpjhiH- 

 V.. D. I '.all, M.S., liiolnf/ixl. mnil. 



I;. W. Clark. \\. Sc, Anuiuil Iixbistn/. II. W. Crockett, Foreman of Hortinilfvral 

 W W . Mcl.auLrlilin, Irriijalion Knghieer. (iroundt. 



W A. >'<Mlfr, I'll. I>., Assoiidlc Chemixl. Vvi'il VAMtvr, Foreman in AnlmaUndiiMry. 



(JENKKAI. OUTLOOK. 



Inioat ioM coiitiiuu's to he the foundutioii upon whicli most of tlio. 

 invostioiitioiis of tho Utuli Stiition uro hasod. The lines of work in 

 pro<rress last year have ])een continued and new w^ork in some phases 

 of irrjtjation and in animal husbandry has been added. Foedinjj;- 

 experiments with horses, cattle, and sheep ha\'C been conducted to 

 study especially the value of suoar factory bj^-products and the possi- 

 bilities of the irrioated pasture. The irrigation investij^ations have 

 been extended to include the study of oi-chard and g-arden crops and 

 the oti'cct of irrioation on the solu))le elements of the soil. In the 

 laboratory the effect of irrigation water on the nitrogen content of 

 crops is ])eing- studied. The protein content of wheat was found to 

 increase and the starch and fat to decrease as the irrigation water was 

 decreased. An attempt is ))eing made to fix these characteristics. 

 During the past three years experiments in dry farming on the station 

 farm have ])een conducted, and results of such general interest obtained 

 that the last legislature appropriated $12,500 for extending the work. 

 Six farms of 40 acres each have been selected and are donated for the 

 pnr{)ose by the counties in which they are located. Trials will be 

 nuuh^ with cereals and other field crops. In this connection an effort 

 is being made to change macaroni wheat from a spring to a fall or 

 w inter variety by means of selection. Some plants were secured that 

 lived through the winter, and it is thought that a winter variety can 

 be secured. Ten varieties of macaroni wheat have given an average 

 yield of 38 bushels an acre without water on the station farm, and 

 this is, therefore, a ver}' valuable dry -farming crop. Under a system 

 of dry farming, however, it is necessary that the wheat be sown in 

 the fall. 



The station is cooperating with this Department as follows: With the 

 Bureau of Soils in the reclamation of a forty-acre tract of alkali land; 

 with the Bureau of Plant Industry in the cultivation of hemp, in the 

 amount of water required by different forage plants, and in the produc- 

 tion of siigar-])eet seed; with the Bureau of Chemistry on the effect of 

 environment on the composition of sugar beets and on the available 

 plant food in soils. Farmers' institutes have been continued under 

 the auspices of the college, the meml)ers of the station staff" partici- 



