Life Sciences Commons^™

Bulletin No. 132 - Minor Dry Land Crops At The Nephi Experiment Farm, P. V. Cardon

UAES Bulletins

The investigations conducted at the Nephi substation deal primarily with cereals; other crops, such as alfalfa, peas, corn, potatoes, etc., have occupied only a secondary position in the work of this station. This necessarily has been true because the experiments are confined to dry-land practices, and the cereals unquestionably comprise the basal crops for dry-land farming as it is now understood and practiced in Utah. No crops have been found as yet which yield so profitably on the dry lands as do the cereals, especially winter varieties.

The purpose of this bulletin is to review the work done on the …

Bulletin No. 130 - The Change In Weight Of Grain In Arid Regions During Storage, Frank S. Harris, George Thomas

UAES Bulletins

In handling grain the question of the changes that may occur in weight after threshing is always before the dealer. If there is any considerable loss during storage his profits are consumed, while if there is a gain it is possible for him to work on a much closer margin.

Bulletin No. 128 - Blooming Periods And Yields Of Fruit In Relation To Minimum Temperatures, A. B. Ballantyne

UAES Bulletins

As noted In Bulletin 124, the Southern Utah Experiment Farm is located in Washington Field, southeast of St. George. This tract of land is comparatively low and flat and bounded on three sides by hills. On the front or north side it extends to the Rio Virgin river, which enters and leaves the valley through small canyons. This entire area has a very poor water and air drainage. Frosts occur here much more severely and much later than on the surrounding bench land.

Bulletin No. 124 - Fruit Variety Tests On The Southern Utah Experiment Farm, A. B. Ballantyne

UAES Bulletins

Since the material contained in the following report of the variety tests on the Southern Utah Experiment Farm was mainly accumulated under plans outlined before the farm was made part of the Utah Experiment Station, it may be well in this connection to give a brief history of its location, management, and a survey of its situation. It was established by an act of the State Legislature approved March 21, 1899, and the site was chosen the following July by a committee appointed by Governor Heber M. Wells. The area selected consists of forty acres located in the southeastern portion …

Bulletin No. 126 - A Comparison Of First, Second And Third Crop Alfalfa Hay For Milk Production, W. E. Carroll

UAES Bulletins

In most sections of the State three crops of alfalfa hay are harvested. There is a widespread opinion among practical feeders in this locality that these crops of hay are not of equal value for feeding purposes. Especially is this true when feeding dairy cows is considered. The belief is so strong in some cases that farmers have said they would exchange three tons of second crop hay for two of first crop when feeding milk cows. Third crop hay is given second choice.

Bulletin No. 118 - Methods For Increasing The Crop Producing Power Of Irrigation Water, John A. Widtsoe, L. A. Merrill

UAES Bulletins

The studies of the Utah Station on the effect of water on the yields of crops have shown, first, that as the water applied increases, the total weight of dry matter also increases; and second, that the increase is not in proportion to the amount of water applied, since the less water applied, the larger the yield of dry matter for each inch of water used. These experiments, as reported in bulletins No. 116 and No. 117 indicate with much certainty the best quantities of water to use for various crops. When, however, each farmer has been allotted this best …

Bulletin No. 116 - The Production Of Dry Matter With Different Quantities Of Irrigation Water, John A. Widtsoe

UAES Bulletins

The second period of the irrigation investigations of the Utah Experiment Station began in 1901, when plans were formulated for accurate and extensive studies of the relations to each other of soils, crops and water. Preliminary work was done on the College Farm during the summer of 1901. During the winter of 1901-02, the Greenville Farm was secured, and on it was constructed a system of weirs, flumes and laterals, whereby accurately measured quantities of water could be placed at will upon any plat. With this apparatus a great number of vital questions concerning the practice of irrigation was submitted …

Bulletin No. 117 - The Yields Of Crops With Different Quantities Of Irrigation Water, John A. Widtsoe, L. A. Merrill

UAES Bulletins

The value of an irrigated farm rests In the land and in the water available for irrigation. Usually the water right for an acre is worth considerably more than the land itself. Under irrigation it is just as important to secure the largest yield per unit of water as it is to obtain the largest yield per acre. Owing to the high cost of water, the production per unit of water is frequently more important than the yield per acre. In Utah and the other irrigated states, the water available for irrigation, or that which may be made available, is …

Bulletin No. 120 - The Chemical Composition Of Crops As Affected By Different Quantities Of Irrigation Water, John A. Widtsoe, Robert Stewart

UAES Bulletins

In earlier bulletins it has been shown that when the quantity of irrigation water applied to crops is varied, the yields of the total crop as well as of the several plant parts vary quite definitely. The readiness with which plants respond to differences in irrigation is really remarkable and undoubtedly lies at the foundation of the future science of irrigation.

Variations in the quantities of irrigation water not only affect the total yield of dry matter, but also the composition of the plant itself. This fact was brought out many years ago in the investigations of this Station.

Bulletin No. 113 - The Influence Of The Combined Harvester On The Value Of The Wheat, Robert Stewart, C. T. Hirst

UAES Bulletins

The extension of the dry-farming area in Utah and the bringing of many thousands of acres of virgin land under wheat cultivation, in large farms, has, in recent years, caused much improvement in the use of farm machinery. One great improvement has been the adoption of the Combined Harvester, which cuts, threshes and sacks the grain in one operation in the field at a minimum of cost. This has been an important factor in the success of the dry-farming movement.

Bulletin No. 111 - The Reclamation Of Seeped And Alkali Lands, C. F. Brown, R. A. Hart

UAES Bulletins

In the year 1905, Drainage Investigations were begun in the State of Utah by the Office of Experiment Stations of the United States Department of Agriculture, in co-operation with the Utah Experiment Station. Appropriations have been made by the Utah State Legislature for irrigation and drainage investigations on condition that the United 8tates Department of Agriculture contribute an equal amount, and that the work be conducted jointly by the Federal department and the experiment station of the Agricultural College of Utah.

Bulletin No. 109 - The Nitrogen And Humus Problem In Dry-Land Farming, Robert Stewart

UAES Bulletins

The effect of cultivation and the growth of crops upon the nitrogen and humus content of soils has been studied by various investigators, both in America and Europe. In general, the results of the various investigations indicate that cropping and cultivation are very destructive of the organic. matter and the nitrogen of the surface soil.

Bulletin No. 108 - The Effect Of Formalin On The Vitality Of Seed Grain, Robert Stewart, John Stephens

UAES Bulletins

The Utah Experiment Station for a number of years has recommended the formalin treatment for the prevention of smut in wheat, oats and barley. Since the publication of Bulletin No. 84 by Prof. L. A. Merrill on the Subject, a number of complaints regarding the treatment have been received. We learned, also, by traveling over the state, that these complaints were quite general. The work reported in this bulletin was undertaken for the purpose of throwing light on these questions, and it is hoped that the results obtained will be of value to the farmers of the state.

Bulletin No. 106 - A Study Of The Production And Movement Of Nitric Nitrogen In An Irrigated Soil, Robert Stewart, J. E. Greaves

UAES Bulletins

The problem of maintaining the nitrogen content in our agricultural soils is one of vital importance to the development of a permanent system of agriculture. Any investigation, therefore, which tends to throw any light on the conditions which are necessary for maintaining the maximum supply of nitrogen in our soils needs no apology for its institution.

Bulletin No. 105 - Factors Influencing Evaporation And Transpiration, John A. Widtsoe

UAES Bulletins

The irrigation investigations conducted by the Utah Experiment Station, some of the results of which form this *report, were undertaken for the purpose of adding to our knowledge of the natural laws upon which the art of irrigation may be safely built. The work has had for its dirrect object the study of the mutual relations of plants, soils and water, as these relations may indicate the most economic use of water for plant production. In pursuit of the investigations it became necessary not only to follow the movement of water in soils under irrigation conditions, but to determine also …

Bulletin No. 104 - The Storage Of Winter Precipitation In Soils, John A. Widtsoe

UAES Bulletins

It has been found that the production of one pound of dry plant substance on soils of average fertility, requires in humid districts not more than five hundred pounds of water, and in arid districts like Utah about seven hundred and fifty pounds. This indicates that the average rainfall of Utah, which is about twelve inches, if properly conserved in the soil, is sufficient to produce annually, without irrigation, from thirty to forty-five bushels of wheat to the acre, or corresponding yields of other crops. The realization of this truth has changed greatly our views of irrigation practices. The beginning …

Bulletin No. 103 - Milling Qualities Of Meat, Robert Stewart, Joseph E. Greaves

UAES Bulletins

Investigations regarding the chemical and milling characteristics of some of the various varieties of wheat grown in the State have been carried on since the season of 1904. This is, however, the first report of the investigations that has been published. The work was started with the hope of assisting in the determination of the varieties of wheat best adapted to the State. While, of course, the variety which does not yield well but which has excellent chemical and milling characteristics is not desirable, yet on the other hand, as has already been so often pointed out, neither is the …

Bulletin No. 98 - Report On The Central Utah Experiment Station, R. S. Northrop, P. A. Yoder

UAES Bulletins

Herewith is respectfully submitted the horticultural report of the Central Utah Experiment Station for the year 1906.

Bulletin No. 97 - Report On The Southern Utah Experiment Station, R. S. Northrop, Joseph T. Atkin, P. A. Yoder

UAES Bulletins

When, in the early part of the year 1905 , the management of the Southern Utah Experiment Farm was turned over to the officials of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, in compliance with an act of the legislature of that year a number of experiments were under way, principally variety tests with orchard and small fruit. The State Board of Horticulture had been in charge of this farm since its establishment in 1899, and had succeeded in making out of it not only a place that will indicate the varieties of fruits adapted to that climate and soil , but …

Bulletin No. 99 - Report On Irrigation And Drainage Investigations During 1905-1906, E. R. Morgan, W. W. Mclaughlin

UAES Bulletins

A general plan for the scientific investigation of the laws governing plant production as influenced by the application of irrigation water, was outlined in 1900 by Dr. John A. Widtsoe as Director of the Utah Experiment Station. The detailed plans were prepared by the heads of the Chemical, Agronomy and Irrigation Department, under whose cooperation the work was to be carried on. In 1903 the Office of Experiment Stations of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, by contributing funds to this work, became a party to the experiments. Since then the investigations have been under the joint supervision of the …

Bulletin No. 95 - Codling Moth Work In 1904: The Relative Value Of Early And Late Sprays, E. D. Ball, E. G. Peterson

UAES Bulletins

The codling moth continues to be the most s serious pest of the Utah horticulturist and was therefore made the main subject of investigation by the Entomological Department for the season of 1904.

In spite of the immense amount of work that ha been done on this subject by various entomologists in this and other countries, several vital points still remain unknown and many more that have been worked out for other localities must be verified and adapted to our conditions.

Bulletin No. 91 - Arid Farming In Utah: First Report Of The State Experimental Arid Farms, John A. Widtsoe, Lewis A. Merrill

UAES Bulletins

The present high position of Utah among the great commonwealths is due to the practice of irrigation. According to the last census, about 983 square miles are now being irrigated; and yet only a small fraction of Utah's water supply is used for purposes of irrigation. With the adoption of improved methods of using water, and the construction of mighty reservoirs to store the floods of spring, the irrigated area in this State will be largely increased. It is not at all improbable that in time the water supply may be made to irrigate ten times the area now under …

Bulletin No. 87 - The Codling Moth, E. D. Ball

UAES Bulletins

The codling moth has been in the State of Utah for over twenty-five years and is now injuriously abundant in every apple-growing section. It is by far the worst pest with which the fruit grower has to contend. In fact, it usually does more damage than all the other fruit insects put together.

It occurs throughout every apple-growing region of the United States, and is found in almost every country where the apple is grown, destroying from one-fourth to three-fourths of the apple crop where no effort is made to check its ravages. Dr. Howard the United States Entomologist, recently …

Bulletin No. 86 - The Right Way To Irrigate, John A. Widtsoe

UAES Bulletins

The irrigation investigations of the Utah Experiment Station w re instituted in 1901; and have been continued since that year. The results promise to be of the highest importance in the establishment. of correct practices in the use of water on the farms.

Bulletin No. 84 - The Grain Smuts, Lewis A. Merrill, B. F. Eliason

UAES Bulletins

Farmers are urged to treat all their seed grain with Formalin, during the coming spring, and thus save to the state, next year, thousands of dollars now lost by smut-infested grain.

Formalin can be purchased at any drug store for about seventy-five cents per pound. Pour one pound of Formalin in fifty gallons of water and completely submerge the seed grain, which is loosely held in burlap sacks, for ten minutes. Dry the seed and it is ready for use.

Bulletin No. 85 - Pear-Blight, W. N. Hutt

UAES Bulletins

This bulletin makes no claim to originality of method. It is simply a brief resume of the history and nature of pear-blight, together with the treatment of the disease that we have found to be most successful, during the last two years, at this Experiment Station. The bulletin is published in reply to numerous letters from many parts of the State asking for information regarding the blight of the pear trees, and methods of controlling it.

Bulletin No. 83 - Pruning Of Tree And Bush Fruits, W. N. Hutt

UAES Bulletins

"How shall we prune" is a question probably more frequently asked than any other in the whole range of horticulture. To answer it brings forth a second question, viz., "Why do we prune?" Pruning is a means to an end. So then to prune intelligently and therefore successfully, there should be in the mind of the operator some definite purpose. Too often pruning is simply a cutting of the tree without any idea as to the final purpose such cutting is to serve. Such pruning invariably does harm instead of good, and has ruined countless trees. Since the ultimate purpose …

Bulletin No. 88 - The Relation Of Smelter Smoke To Utah Agriculture, John A. Widtsoe

UAES Bulletins

Utah's position among the great commonwealths depends upon the degree of development of the agricultural industry of the State. As a producer of wealth, however, the mining industry exceeds agriculture. The total annual value of Utah farm products is about $17,000,000.00, while the total output from the mines is valued at $34,000,000.00. The operation of the mines, reduction mills and smelters necessitates the employment of large numbers of people, who swell the population of the State, and consume a large part of its agricultural products. Utah, which is an inland State, possessing as yet few large manufacturing enterprises, finds the …

Bulletin No. 80 - Irrigation Investigations In 1901, John A. Widtsoe

UAES Bulletins

The fact that the ancient and, to arid countries, indispensible art of irrigation lacks a scientific basis, is the justification of the decision taken two years ago by the officers of the Utah Experiment Station, to make irrigation the central subject of their investigations.

Bulletin No. 69 - The Golden Vine Field Pea: Its Chemical Composition And Forage Value, John Stewart

UAES Bulletins

For some time past the Division of Agrostology has been conducting investigations in various parts of the United States with a view to the preservation of our native grasses, the introduction of new varieties, and the improvement of the ranges. The investigation in Texas, where the once fine ranges have been seriously injured or totally destroyed on account of the greed and carelessness of stockmen, is an important one.

In his last report, the Secretary of Agriculture recommends that provisions be made for renting the public lands, suitable for grazing purposes, to stockmen and sheepmen for a number of years. …