Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1902 [PAGE 124]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1901]

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

105

2. That experiments in breeding corn for improvement in its chemical composition and physical characteristics should be continued and extended. 3. That the subject of corn judging should be further developed and score cards for the standard varieties established. 4. That efforts be made to determine the vitality and germinating power of the seed corn commonly planted by farmers of the State; also that information be distributed relative to methods of testing seed corn, and for its preservation. 5. That experiments be conducted to improve the methods of corn cultivation. 6. That the adaptations of standard varieties to the different sections of the State be investigated. 7. That investigations be made of the methods of storing and marketing of corn. 8. That experiments be conducted as soon as possible to determine the relative feeding value of corn of high and low protein content and of high and low oil content. C. Under the "Soil Section":

1. In order to determine the immediate needs of the soil it was agreed that plat experiments should be conducted in about 15 or 20 localities in different sections of the State on different classes of soils which are typical of large areas of land. These plat experiments should include applications of the different elements of plant food and different methods of soil treatment, in order to discover whether the soil is deficient in the available supply of essential elements of fertility, whether its physical condition may be improved and its productive capacity increased. 2. Analyses should be made of the various typical soils throughout the State (beginning with those which represent the largest areas) to determine the total quantities of the several elements of plant food in the soils and the conditions in which it exists, both in virgin soils and in the long cropped and worn soils of the same type, in order to ascertain the effects of past and present systems of farming upon the stock of soil fertility and to furnish information as to the systems of farming which should be adopted for the various types of soil so that fertility may be utilized and conserved. 3. Investigations should be made of various soils of the State which are representative of large areas and which present special difficulties; as, for example, the "scalds," the so-called "dead dog," " b o g u s " or "alkali" lands, etc. 4. It was agreed that the Experiment Station should invite the cooperation of the Division of Soils of the United States Department of Agriculture in beginning a soil survey of the State. The committee voted to recommend to the Trustees of the University of Illinois that they employ some competent person whose duties should include frequent reports to the press of the State regarding the work o£ the Agricultural College and the progress of agricultural experiments and investigations. D. Under the "Horticultural Section":

1. The publication before August first a bulletin upon the picking, pack* ing, and marketing of apples and pears. 2. The publication at an early date of a bulletin upon the picking, packing, and marketing of small fruits. 3. Experiments with cool and cold storage of fruits in cellars and cold storage possibly to the extent of $1,300.00 and $1,600.00 respectively. 4. Investigation of bitter rot and other diseases to the extent of $2,400.00. 5. That $1,500.00 be set aside for traveling and incidental expenses.