MISSISSIPPI. 121 



of influence. The rapid increase in the attendance at the school of 

 agriculture of the university, and the agricultural high schools, is 

 evidence of greater interest in improved agriculture, and the station 

 will doubtless still further profit from this condition. 



MISSISSIPPI. 



Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station, Agricultural College.^ 



Department of Mississippi Agrioultui'al and Mechanical College. 

 W. L. Hutchinson, M. S., Director. 



The Mississippi Station has continued its investigations on the im- 

 provement of agricultural practice in the South. Under existing 

 conditions it is estimated that the labor of two men and a mule is 

 barely sufficient to produce crops which, aside from what is consumed 

 on the premises, will yield a cash income of $200 a year, and even un- 

 der this system the productiveness of the soil is being steadily 

 diminished. With the proper equipment and improved methods, 

 however, it is believed that one man can make the same amount of 

 land mainly self-supporting, maintain the fertility of the soil, and 

 sell from $500 to $2,000 worth of product annually. Efforts are 

 being made by the station to introduce more diversified farming as 

 a means to this end. Tlie department of animal industry, recently 

 established, has carried on feeding experiments which indicate that 

 beef production may be made a profitable industry. Preparations 

 are being made further to develop the work in poultry raising, dairy- 

 ing, and agronomy. Pure-bred stock is to be bought and experi- 

 ments made with a larger number of animals. One problem to be 

 undertaken is that of the better utilization of pastures and woodlands 

 in the State, so that a larger number of animals can be maintained 

 per acre. 



During the year the college and station farms, gardens, and 

 dairies have been consolidated under the station management. The 

 agronomist, who has recently returned from a year's leave of absence 

 spent in advanced study, will have general charge of the work with 

 farm crops. About 150 acres are now available for experimental 

 purposes and will be devoted largel}' to investigations of methods of 

 cultivation, fertilizers, rotation of crops, the growing of forage crops, 

 and plant-breeding experiments. A new dairy building, costing 

 about $10,000, has been completed. This is a brick structure, con- 

 sisting of two stories and basement. It contains ample room for 

 the growth of the dairy department, and special provision is made 

 for work in bacteriology. 



a Telegraph address, Starkville ; express and post-office address, Agricultural 

 College; freight address, -4. and M. College Stption. 



