Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 205]

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203

Comparing 13 and 15 with 14 and 16, gives 12.87 bushels per acre in favor of trench plowing in spring. I should expect best results from trench plowing in the fall, and think this res alt would have shown such, had the plowing been equally good. The effect of manure is much less than has been shown in former experiments. This is supposed to result from the lack of moisture to make the manure available. Of varieties, the "Thomas" is shown to be the best; this should be called "Thomas' Improved." It has been raised on the farm for the past nine years. After crossing it with the "Galtra," a large, late, deep-grained variety, and then with great care selecting the seed for three years, it has become, as I think, the best large or medium variety in this section.' It was found that it took 128 ears of this corn to make 75 pounds, the amount taken for a bushel. As showing that this corn was too thick and the ears too small, 75 pounds was taken from the wagon, as it run from a forty-acre field, that gave a yield of 70 bushels to the acre. This 75 pounds counted out 98 ears—30 less than the average of this experiment. The same, after being kiln-dried, was shelled, and gave 57% pounds of dry corn and 12% pounds of cobs. The conclusion of the whole is, that there are many things in the simple operation of corn-raising, not yet understood, as there are results here shown, that, with most careful study, while the corn was growing, and after it was gathered, I am entirely unable to account for. This experiment was published in the different Agricultural papers and in the Chicago Tribune, and from the number of letters, boih congratulatory and inquisitory, that I have received I am lead to believe that it has been well received. I have made some tests, one of which was to test the productiveness of the sub-soil after the soil is removed. With potatoes, where one foot was removed, about a half a crop was harvested; where two feet were removed there was practically no crop. Where two feet of soil was removed and a thin coating of course, u n r o t e d manure was applied, a full crop was harvested. With wheat where two feet was removed the straw was 14 inches in length and about 7 or 8 bushels was the estimated yield. It was somewhat better where but one foot was taken off. This was on land where the soil had been removed to grade about the Chemical Laboratory. For cost of experiments see paper marked "H." No account was kept of the extra labor on the corn experiment made by myself, but it is thought that the extra labor, together with the time and thought given it by myself, would amount to the sum charged. I have commenced with an experiment with wheat on some of the poorest land we have by applying: 1st, well rotted manure; 2d, salt; 3d, super-phosphates of lime. This was done soon after the sowing. Something might be added by applications in the spring, but I consider the point of first importance in wheat growing is to secure a strong and vigorous growth in the fall. Where this has been obtained, so far as my experience goes, the percentage of failures is very small. There has been a constant inquiry, by those who have called on us, for "the experiments," and this has prompted me to do this work, notwithstanding the faci that this is not considered any part of my work. At the M rch meeting,in 1878. I presented, by request of Prof. Morrow, a plan for a system of experiments to show the value of rotation of crops. I had at that time given this much thought, and can now see no place where the plan then offered can be materially changed without detracting from its value. I would again ask that this may be considered. It would also seem desirable to repeat the experiment in corn growing, heretofore presented. With this in view I have made a commencement on the stock farm. To accomplish anything worthy of note in this important branch of our work, will require careful study and close attention, without which more harm than good will be done. It would seem that there is a grand opening for us in the way of sugar making, But as this would require work in the Chemical Laboratory, and of those higher in authority than myself, I will refrain from furthe mention. In the nine years that I have been in the service of the University the wish of the Board of Trustees as to the management of the farms has been very dimly if at all made manifest. By the terms of my first contract, I was given free choice as to management, and the arrangement of details, and was only restricted to a system of rotation that might be designated by the Board (this does not appear in the reports, but may be found in your letter book of January or February. 1871) and in preparing my plans I have reasoned something as follows: The University was established for the benefit of the "industrial classes," who want to know how to make money, rather than for the rich, who may want to know how to spend money. Farming never ends 'till the crop is marketed and the money in the bank. So good farming can't exist without making money. A baker might as well be asked to make a good loaf of bread that would not be fit to eat, as to ask a farmer to do good farming that did'nt prove remunerative. If we expect to illustrate farming, it would seem desirable to make a positive demonstration, rather than a negative—to show how to do it, rather than to show how not to do it. Further, if it is expected to encourage intelligent men to choose the occupation of farming, we can do no better than to prove to them that if they follow their vocation intelligently they will not be sold out by the sheriff. Further, though the farm might blossom "like the rose of Sharon" at the expense of the State Treasury, it would be no credit to us or benefit to any one else. A model is something to be followed and not a thing of ornament simply; and a model farm is the one that best fulfils the object of farming. In the absence of definite instructions the above thoughts have prompted me to the course that has been pursued. I would refer to the adopted report of the Farm Committee, as shown in Univ. Reports 1878, p. 85, and ask for more definite instructions. Every one who has handled cattle to any extent has learned that at this age of the world, when cattle are not required to defend themselves against wild beasts, horns are not only useless but dangerous to both man and beasts. In view of this fact, and the further fact that this as well as many other things is under the control of the breeder, and believing further that the limit of improvement in domestic animals is far from being reached, and that it is the province of the University to lead rather than to follow in this work, I ask that a systematic effort be made to breed such animals as the circumstances of the case demand. That is, to make a new breed from material now accessible. To carry this out would require the purchase of a Polled Angus bull, to be crossed on such