EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XX. October, 1908. No. 2. 



With the expansion of experimental inquiries in agriculture in the 

 United States there is growing interest in investigations dealing with 

 the special needs of particular regions. This is leading to appropria- 

 tions by State legislatures for substations. To be most effective these 

 substations should be organized to work on definite problems indicated 

 by their local environment. This is especially true in regions where 

 the natural conditions require that agriculture must have a peculiar 

 organization to be successful. This may be illustrated by the condi- 

 tions existing in the regions in this country where irrigation or 

 drainage is a fundamental requisite of agriculture. 



As an example of the organization of experiment stations with ref- 

 erence to peculiar regional conditions, the work being done by the 

 German Government with a view to the reclamation of moor lands is 

 interesting, since it shows a well-directed specialization of experi- 

 mental inquiries. The attention of our readers is therefore called to 

 some observations on the moor experiment stations of Germany made 

 by Mr. C. G. Elliott, chief of Drainage Investigations of this Office, 

 as the result of a recent visit to these institutions in connection with 

 a study of drainage conditions in Europe. 



The moor lands of Germany have long been celebrated in poet's 

 song and upon painted canvas, yet in their natural state they are 

 worthless for growing food plants, a barrier to travel between differ- 

 ent sections of the Empire, and forbidding to the prospective home 

 maker. There are more than 5,000,000 acres of these lands, most of 

 them in Government ownership, which yield no revenue and support 

 but few ]oeoj)le. Existing as they do in this land of intensive culti- 

 vation, and in full view of people of acknowledged industry and 

 scientific attainments, it is a matter of surprise that no greater 

 progress has been made in utilizing them. As an inducement to their 

 settlement, the Government at one time offered immunity from mili- 

 tary service to such as would make homes upon the Government 

 moors. Notwithstanding the efforts so far made to reclaim and 

 utilize this vast area of waste land, only about 15,000 acres have been 

 converted into productive fields. 



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