12 



cooperative experimental work, and the plan of cooperation adopted 

 in this instance has been the basis of subsequent work. The investi- 

 gations undertaken with this station deal with problems that can not 

 be satisfactorily met at the home station from the fact that the soil 

 and climatic conditions are quite different from those which prevail 

 over the western portion of the State, which is quite typical of a 

 large part of the northwestern range region. At the request of the 

 South Dakota Experiment Station, the Division of Agrostology early 

 in 1899 joined with it in investigating the question of improvement 

 of the northwestern ranges and testing drought-resistant grasses and 

 forage crops. Up to the present time the work has been very satis- 

 factory in plan, in results, and in promises for the future. The 

 practicability of improvement of the natural grass lands through 

 rest and special treatment is being demonstrated, and much is being 

 done to show the farmers and stockmen what can be accomplished 

 by the cultivation of drought-resistant forage crops, particularly 

 quick-maturing annuals for the production of forage to supplement 

 the natural ranges and pastures. 



SUMMARY. 



In brief, this series of visits to the stations demonstrates clearly 

 not only that there are many problems which can be studied much 

 better through station and Departmental cooperation, but that the 

 station authorities themselves appreciate the desirability of such 

 cooperative work and are eager to enter into it. It is recognized 

 that in these general problems, while the stations are able to work 

 out the details of experiments and matters of relatively local bear- 

 ing, there is a most important phase of the investigations that 

 can be much more satisfactorily handled by the Department ; and, 

 in order to secure the best results to the country at large, it is 

 highly desirable that there should be the closest cooperation between 

 station and Departmental investigators. In addition to the assist- 

 ance which the Department can render the stations in solving these 

 special problems through the detailing of its experts for field investi- 

 gations, and supplying seed for experiments, this cooperation will 

 have a most important bearing on the work of the stations in encour- 

 aging greater concentration on lines of greatest importance to the 

 people and in rendering more readily available to the station workers 

 the experience and training of the- Departmental experts. 



Consultation with the station authorities has emphasized the desir- 

 ability of cooperation along a number of lines of investigation, the 

 following being perhaps the most important at the present time, and 

 including every section of the country : 



1. The formation, care, and management of pastures, including 

 the selection of the best varieties, methods of preparing the soil and 



