56 REPORT OF OFFICE OF KXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



proposed by still another railroad, which offers to buy one or more 

 abandoned or run-down farms in New York State to be turned over 

 to the Slate Hoard of Ajrriculture or the New York collcnr'' or station 

 for operation as demonstration farms, in order to carry the results of 

 their work and experience into practice. In neither case have these 

 railroads lar<ie areas of land to dispose of, as some of the w^estern 

 roads have, but the movement is promoted by a faith m agriculture 

 and a realization of the necessity for introducing better and more 

 intelligent methods of farming. 



In Arizona a railroad has made an initial contribution to the sta- 

 tion of $2,000 for studies in dry farming. A location has been 

 selected on a tract rei)resentative of a large section which it is thought 

 may be utilized for dry farming. The work is to be done under the 

 supervision of the station agriculturist. A large railroad in the 

 Northwest is instituting a series of cooperative farm experiments in 

 conjunction with various development and commercial clubs along its 

 line. A farmer is to be selected, near each town, who will be paid at 

 the rate of $10 per acre annually for cultivating and cropping at least 

 6 acres of land under the direction of an expert of the road. 



The popularity of demonstration trains has not waned, and the 

 character of such trains has become more comprehensive 3'ear by 

 year. The practice has extended to every part of the country. As 

 an example of the scope and character of these trains, a demonstra- 

 tion train operated in Oregon may be cited. This train consisted of 

 seven cars, equipped with a large amount of illustrative material, 

 and was manned by a corps of experts from the college and station 

 staff. Demonstrations w-ere given of the milking machine and other 

 dairy appliances, using pure-bred cows from the college herd ; and 

 also of pruning, grafting, and packing apples; talks and exhibits on 

 farm crops, insects, and fungus diseases, and other phases of agricul- 

 tural work. INIuch interest was aroused among the merchants, com- 

 mercial organizations, and the general public, as Avell as among 

 farmers, and in many towns the stores were closed during the time tlie 

 train was at the depot. During the trip of about a week over 20,000 

 people visited the train. 



In another trip of four days, in which the special features empha- 

 sized were horticulture and poultry raising, fully 30,000 people were 

 reached. A fruit-demonstration train operated in the Yakima Val- 

 ley in AVashington included a flat car equipped with a model orchard 

 in tubs and a power sprayer, by means of which complete demon- 

 strations of spraying and pruning were given. Another train in 

 that State included specially equipped cars for dairy stock, with a 

 milking machine in operation; a dairy car containing bottling appli- 

 ances, milk coolers, separators, and similar devices; a horticultural 

 car; and a poultry car. 



