Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station. 315 



agriculture in the irrigated regions of Arizona. The work with 

 sugar beets has also been brought to completion, and will be laid 

 aside during the current year. 



The department of botany, with the co-operation of the Div- 

 ision of Agrostology, U. S. D. A., for part of the year, has begun 

 the important work of studying grazing conditions in the South- 

 west, and has made progress along several lines of inquiry relat- 

 ing to range problems. The range reserve of 350 acres near 

 Tucson, although it has been under fence but eight months, 

 shows in marked degree the recuperation of native vegetation 

 when protected from stock. It is hoped that this study will grow 

 into large importance as affecting the declining value of the ruin- 

 ously managed ranges of the Southwest. 



Questions relating to entomology and meteorology have 

 from time to time been referred to the consulting members of the 

 staff. This arrangement, so far as it goes, is very satisfactory, 

 combining economy with a fair degree of service. 



The department of agriculture and horticulture has operated 

 upon the Station farm near Phoenix, having increased in useful- 

 ness and grown in favor in that very suitable location. The in- 

 vestigations of forage plants, grains, orchard management, and 

 duty of water all relate closely to the welfare of this region. In 

 the same place, .the department of animal husbandry, now in its 

 second year, has continued and extended its operations. The 

 acquisition of 28 acres of land for feeding work has afforded 

 facilities for the handling of a satisfactory number of animals, and 

 for the increase of the number ot experiments. 



Both of the last named departments, however, as, indeed, the 

 Station as a whole, are working under financial limitations. Im- 

 provements, however, have been made in modest amount, and are 

 additionally assured to a considerable extent during the current 

 year. 



THE DATE PALM ORCHARD. 



After one year's operations, the large shipment of palms re- 

 ceived and planted at the orchard south of Tempe and at the 

 Station farm, gives evidence of the probable outcome of the ex- 

 periment. The extremely dry summer of 1900, and the excep- 

 tionally cold, ensuing winter imposed severe difficulties upon the 



