| |
| |
Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
131 An attempt has been made to ascertain how much Indian Corn can be grown on an acre, and an acre has been devoted to that purpose. A good stand has been obtained, and at present the growth of the young plants is considerably in advance of any within my observation. In addition to the above, there are under cultivation plats and patches of one variety of Sugar, and three of Field Beets, and one each of Carrots, Caragua, and California and Cuba Cane, Sorghum, Brown Cereo Cabbages, Field Squashes and Pumpkins, and Germania Millet—with other German Miilet and Buckwheat yet to be sown. The stand of Lucern Clere or Alfalfa, seems to be unexpectedly good, and that of the Cichard Grass and the Italian Ray Grass are both admirable. There does not seem to be anythiug now in the way of success with these plants, unless it be the sun-scald which may inj ure them when the grain which occupies the ground with them is removed at harvest. The Flax experiments have failed, of which five acres were sown with three varieties. The patches were seeded early in April, b u t the very unusual freezing of the ground about the middle of the month froze and rotted the seed just at the period oi germination, and not more than a fifth of a stand was obtained. Under these circumstances the ground has been broken up and will be given over to buckwheat and German millet. For further information, and in ffrder to give the Board an opportunity to judge of the appearance of the experimental grounds, and of the manner of cultivating and handling, I invite the members of the Board to make an inspection of the growing crops in the fields. And in conclusion, and with considerable diffidence, I ask for the purpose of making the experiment with the single acre of corn, in foreign corn, the root crop, cabbages and potatoes, the purchase of the following fertilizers, which may be had here in the city at the prices named. Two barrels, or 600 lbs. super-phosphated lime, at 2.15c per lb $12 90 One barrel, or 300 lbs., of nitrate of soda, 4%c per lb 13 50 Two barrels, or 600 lbs., of ground gypsum, #3 per barrel 6 00 m-2 io B. F. JOHNSON, In Charge of Experiments. CHAMPAIGN, I I I . , J u n e 7,1875. EXPERIMENTS IN CATTLE FEEDING. To DR. J. M. GREGORY, Regent Illinois Industrial University : I herewith present tables showing the result of two experiments in cattle feeding as well as two in feeding hogs, with accompanying explanations. I am also making an experiment of rearing and feeding hogs, to ascertain the cost from first to last in corn and pasture. The design in these experiments is to make them practical by feeding and caring for the animal in the same manner as is practiced by different practical feeders, and comparing one with another. It is not claimed that we can improve on the methods of feeding as practiced by good feeders, but we may ascertain the relative value of each. We are grazing on the stock farm 66 steers, and have large and small, about 100 hogs. The crops in process of growth including the experimental plate, consist of 170 acres corn, 30 acres oats, 110 acres timothy meadow, 12 acres clover, 150 acres pasture, as well as some small pieces of rye, spring wheat, etc. While I expect an estimate of the efficiency of the work done on the farms will be made from the amount of dividends turned over and the condition of the land for another crop, yet it would be gratifying to have yourself and the Board of Trustees make a more extended examination of my work. I would call your attention to the fact that the house and barn on the Experimental Farm are in great need of repair, principally painting. The painting should be done immediately, both as a matter of economy and for the sake of appearances. Respectfully submitted, E. L. LAWRENCE. CHAMPAIGN, June 1,1875. The reader will remember the details of several experiments in cattle feeding, conducted by Mr. E. L. Lawrence, the manager of the farm at the Illinois Industrial University, heretofore described in these columns. In this connection the following accounts of later experiments conducted by the same gentleman will be found of great interest and value: Gain, 90 Days Weight. Grain Consumed. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1070 1390 1360 1130 1200 1360 1220 1220 1100 1130 1150 1060 1130 1190 * Estimated. Dec. 24. Total... 1320 1545 1435 1230 1265 1470 1395 1395 1305 1345 1275 1375 1375 1405 May 24. Per day E a r C o r n a n d Clover—in Conditions. 250 155 75 100 65 110 175 175 205 215 225 215 240 215 2090 2090 1430 1430 1368 1367 1367 *2160 *2160 *2160 *2160 *2160 -2160 -2160 23.2 23.2 15.9 15.9 15.2 15.2 15.2 24. 24. 24. 24. 24. 24. 24. barn. barn. Corn Meal a n d Clover—in Corn Meal, C u t Straw a n d Clover—in b a r n . M i d d l i n g s , C u t S t r a w a n d Clover—in b a r n . Shock Corn—in yard.
| |
