71 



excursion li'aiiis on llic days of the meetings of the clnh. 'rh(> Sta- 

 tion farm (■omi)rises o'AO acres in Ouachita parish near the village of 

 Calhoun. This came into the hands of the State University and 

 Agricultural and ^Mechanical College April G, IHfSS. In spite of the 

 lateness of the season and the pooi- condition of the land very much 

 was accomplished through the skill and energy of the manager, Mr. 

 L. M. Calhoun. Fifty acres of old fields were brought under culti- 

 vation. More than oO acres of woodland were cleared and nmch 

 rough and uneven land was made smooth. Fences were built, and 

 conti'acts made for the necessary ])uildings. The Station is now 

 equipped with dwellings, stablf's. and laboi-atoi-y. Thirty acres have 

 been devoted to experiments with cotton, corn, grasses, and other 

 croi:)S, in which especial attention will be given to manurial require- 

 ments. The orchard, vineyard, and garden cover 10 acres: 50 acres 

 are devoted to general field crops, and the rest to pasture. The Sta- 

 tion has obtained Ilolstein and Jersey cattle, and will soon have im- 

 pro\ed breeds of hogs and sheej). Experiments with horses are also 

 contem})lated. Poultry houses and yards have been erected, and a 

 number of im])roved breeds have been obtained. 



Orehard (oul vhwyard (pp. 206-298). — The following numl)ers of 

 varieties of fruits have l)een carefully planted and fertilized: figs, 

 10; filberts. 1: almonds, 4: quinces, G; apricots, 15; nectarines, 8; 

 chestnuts, 3: .Japanese j^^i'^^iniii^ons, 10; plums, IG; pears, 84; 

 peaches, 32: api)les. 40: graiDes, 56: strawberries, 26. 



Grasses and clorers (p. 298). — Experiments are in progress with 

 six varieties of clovers, fourteen of grasses, and several of wheat, 

 oats, barley, and rye. 



The vegetable garden (p. 298). — In this garden varieties will be 

 tested with a view to developing the truck industry. 



Field exferiments with cotton (pp. 299-307). — (1) E-jfects of fer- 

 tilizers on cotton (pp. 299-303). — These experiments were conducted 

 on two fields of the same size, one of " sandy land "' and the other of 

 " red land." They were similai- in i)urpose and plan to the special 

 nitrogen, phosphoric acid and i)otash experiments made at the sta- 

 tions at Kenner and Baton Rouge and described above. The ques- 

 tions propounded in each field Avere-: (1) AMiat valuable ingredients 

 of fertilizers does this soil need to grow cotton? (2) In what pro- 

 portions shall these be combined? To these was added anoth'^r 

 question: (3) Shall the fertilizers be distributed broadcast or in tlie 

 hill? Cotton-seed meal and cotton seed Avere used to supply nitro- 

 gen, acid phosi)liate for phosphoric acid, and kainit for potash, sep- 

 arately and in various combinations. Ivesults are given in tables. 

 It appears that these particular soils need nitrogen very badly, and 

 phosphoric acid and perhaps potash (kainit) in small quantities. 

 The soils did not profit l)y large (piantities of any ingredient, being 

 in poor condition and imperfectly and hastily i)re|)ared. 



