NORTH DAKOTA. 141 



The North Carolina Station is making a strong impress upon the 

 agriculture of the State, largely through its branch farms, and is 

 also conducting some good investigations into fundamental problems. 

 Its Avork is much appreciated and it is in a position to be of great 

 value to the agricultural industries of the State. 



NOBTH DAKOTA. 



North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Aijrirnltiiral College.a 



Departuieiit of Nortli Dakota Agricultural College. 



,J. II. Worst, LL. D., Director. 



The North Dakota Station has made material progress, although 

 the extremel}' wet season interfered very considerably with the field 

 and plat Avork. Good results were obtained from grasses and clovers, 

 but most of the small cereals failed to mature. The necessity of 

 drainage in the Ked River Valley is becoming apparent, and the 

 station has undertaken an investigation of the feasibility of tile drain- 

 age in cooperation with this Office. At the Dickinson and Edgeley 

 substations conditions were more favorable and the plant-breeding 

 work was successfully continued. 



Among the investigations closed during the past year are studies 

 of the rapid diagnosis of rabies by means of the lesions of Nelis and 

 Van Gehuchten and Negri. Improvement of the wild plum by seed 

 selection has resulted in the third generation in individuals bearing 

 fruit over an inch in diameter and in a fair degree of fixity of type. 

 Continuous growing of grain crops and flax has proved ineffec- 

 tive as a means of checking a rapid increase of wild oats and other 

 weeds, Avliile introducing a cultivated crop into the rotation once in 

 four years has reduced the w^eeds materially, and grass crops for 

 three or more years have eradicated them almost Avholly. 



Laboratory experiments have recently been inaugurated with 

 "■ swamp fever " or anemia of horses. The chemist is taking up in- 

 vestigations of the Avearing qualities of paints and paint materials, 

 the bleaching of loAv-grade flours, and studies of formaldehyde. The 

 study of soils will be resumed, particular attention being giA^en to the 

 role of humus. Feeding experiments are being conducted along the 

 lines of previous years Avith steers and swine, and breeding experi- 

 ments Avith swine, sheep, and poultry. 



The station has continued its study of plant diseases, especially the 

 wilt and rust of flax, and its plant-breeding Avork with Avheat, flax, 

 and potatoes. A number of demonstration farms have been estab- 

 lished along the two principal raihvay systems of the State. The 

 teaching of agriculture in the public schools has been encouraged 

 and correspondence courses in agriculture have been instituted. 



a Freight aud express address, Fargo. 



