1905.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 115 



REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURISTS. 



Av>r. r. P.ROOKS; assistants, f. k. church, s. h. haskell. 



The work of the agricultural department of the experi- 

 ment station during the past year has in the main followed 

 the genei'al lines of investigation which have recently en- 

 gaged attention. These for the most part are connected 

 with questions aftecting the selection and use of manures and 

 fertilizers. To give results of value, such experiments re- 

 (j[uire numerous repetitions, because of variation in product 

 due to seasons and to conditions which we cannot fully con- 

 trol. In the averages of a series of years the influence of 

 such variations is in a measure eliminated, and deductions 

 based upon such averages will serve as a basis in farm prac- 

 tice. 



The work of the past season has involved the care of o^'er 

 220 plots in the open field, 150 closed plots and 278 pots in 

 vegetation experiments. 



Our grass garden, which includes 48 species and 7 varie- 

 ties, most of them occupying 1 square rod of land, has been 

 cared for as usual. One-half of the area in each species has 

 been kept constantly lawn-mown, with a view to studying 

 the probable effects of grazing; and a considerable number 

 of species which had become mixed have been renewed, 

 after paring and burning the old turf for the destruction of 

 seeds and roots of weeds and other grasses. 



Numerous experiments with alfalfa, both on our own 

 grounds and on the grounds of selected farmers, are in 

 progress. The results of this work are to be given in a bul- 

 letin. It suffices for the present to say that we have nowhere 

 attained results so satisfactorj^ that the extensive sowing of 

 this crop can be advised ; it must still be regarded as in the 

 experimental stage. 



