152 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Tlic soil on the trait scloftod is far from liomojifonooiis. Near tlio little creek, 

 wliidi (lows east and ^ve!^t tlnoii^li llic ccntor of ilie 100 acres and divides the 

 tract into two apjiroxiniately eqnal parts, tliere is an area of black muck, while on 

 the terraces, which rise one al)ove another on either side, the soil is graded into a 

 black sandy loam, oontaininji plenty of lime and of great native fertility. This 

 soil is spread rather thinly over the solid rock. The valley of the stream, which is 

 known by tlie name of Slap Neck Creek, is approximately sixty-five feet deep, 

 measuring from the surface of the water in the creek to the level of the upper 

 terraces on each side. These terraces are bounded by gentle connecting slopes, all 

 cultivable. The depth of the soil varies from two and one-half to three and one- 

 half feet. The native timber is maple, for the most part, with a few basswood, 

 cedar, wild cherry and elm. The large size of the trees, combined with the dense- 

 ness of the forest, demonstrates the good quality of the land. The contour of the 

 surface provides ample drainage, except in time of excessive rainfalls. 



An analysis of the underlying rock made by Dr. R. C. Ked/.ic, the cliemist of the 

 E.xperiment Station, exhibits tlie following composition: 



Carbonate of lime 32 per cent 



Carbonate of magnesium 22 " "' 



Sand 35 " •' 



Iron and aluminum oxides 5 " " 



^Vater and undetermined 6 " " 



100 



The upper strata of these rocks are exceedingly soft and friable. The soil is com- 

 posed of this rock disintegrated in place and mixed with decaying vegetable matter. 



The IGO acres of land on which the Station is located was donated to the State by 

 the Munising Railroad Company. This company also agreed to clear, stump and 

 griib the land as needed for exi)eriraental purposes and specificallj' agreed to clear, 

 stump and grub twenty acres prior to May 1, 1900. 



After accepting the donation of the land, the State Board of Agriculture confided 

 the planning and execution of experiments to the Director and Council of the Experi- 

 ment Station, connected with the Agricultural College. 



Mr. Leo M. Geismar, then of Reed City, was appointed Superintendent in charge in 

 the spring of 1900. 



Owing to the unusual lateness of the spring, and the superabundance of rain, com- 

 bined with the scarcity of men in the entire Upper Peninsula, due to the high price 

 of lumber, the work of clearing the land was greatly delayed. It was not until well 

 toward the middle of ^lay that enough land had been cleared to make possible the 

 jilanting of a single plot. It was then too late to begin tests the results of which 

 would be based on the comparison of yields of adjacent plots. All that could be 

 done was to test the growth and behavior of our common cereals, vegetables and 

 fruits, in that northern climate, select the varieties best adapted to the conditions 

 existing tliere, and in general determine the basis for future experiments. The selection 

 of varieties of cereals and other field crops was made by Prof. J. D. Towar, the Agricul- 

 turist of the Station, who imported much of the seed from either northern Canada or. 

 the northern United States, introducing not only the varieties suited to northern 

 Michigan, but the strains of those varieties which had been cultivated in the northern 

 climates long enough to become thoroughly acclimated. 



A beginning has been made with vegetables, small fruits and tree fruits, the 

 varieties being selected by Professor L. R. Taft, the Horticulturist of the Station, 

 the plants and seeds furnished by him and the work carried forward by Superintendent 

 Geismar. 



The Superintendent was greatly handicapped throughout the season, first by an 

 almost continuous downpour of rain, which not only delayed the starting of crops 

 at the proper time in the spring but prevented the cultivation subsequently; sec- 

 ond, by the depredations of deer, against which the Station farm was not provided 

 with suitable fencing; third, the difficulty of obtaining help; fourth, and finally, 

 the absence of buildings wherein could be stored either the tools or the yields of the 

 various plots. 



During the late summer and fall the last difficulty was remedied by the construction 

 of a suitable house and barn. 



A substantial fence has been put around the cleared plots to exclude animals. 



