Bulletin No.

059

Document Type

Bulletin

Department

Department of Agriculture

Description

The experiments in the James River Valley during 1897 are a continuation of the work of 1896, the results of which are recited in Bulletin 52. There was no material change in the methods or aims of the researches. All the leading experiments with forage plants were repeated in order to obtain that certainty and weight which comes from repetition. While the results of a single season may have a significant value, nevertheless, the results of a series of seasons raise the issue above the level of accident and place them on the plane of demonstrated fact. It must be remembered that this whole region has been an exclusively one crop region and that it is comparatively undeveloped in its total resources in forage plants and vegetables. The main objects of the experiments so far as this Station is concerned is to determine the varieties of forage and garden crops that will make diversified husbandry and home building attractive and profitable. The number of varieties of forage plants and vegetables tested in 1897 was larger as compared with those of the previous year. Seeds were obtained from all available sources, from seedsmen, from the department of Agriculture, from the experiment stations, and especially from the large seed houses of the John A. Salzer Co., La Crosse, Wis. In the case of forage plants, upward of one hundred varieties were sown. In addition to these, 36 varieties of grasses and clovers were installed in small plats in order to give a comparative view of the habits of growth, etc., at a single glance. This was an important feature owing to the numerous visitors who came weekly to inspect the experiments in progress. Representatives from all sections of the country took occasion avail themselves of the low rates offered by the railroads to visit the experimental grounds which are situated as in former years on the Hunter Salzer farm at Mellette. In the case of vegetables and garden truck, upwards of 280 different kinds were planted. This made a most remarkable showing. In testing such a large number, it is unavoidable, that for different reasons, many were not deemed worthy of further trial. It will be the purpose of this bulletin to dwell upon those only which give promise of proving successful.

Keywords

forages, market garden, garden, vegetables

Pages

40

Publication Date

3-1898

Type

text

Format

application/pdf

Language

en

Publisher

U. S. Experiment Station of South Dakota, South Dakota Agricultural College

Comments

Departments of Chemistry and Agriculture

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