27; August 5, 14 and 28, and September, 2. The tomato worm was present in large numbers, but was kept in check by daily picking.

FALL GRAIN.

November 13, 1890, one-fourth acre each of barley, wheat and rye was sown on the southeast corner of the grounds, occupying land since surveyed for quarter acre tracts I and J. Thirty pounds of seed was used for each quarter. The plan was to test late fall sowing, and without irrigation. By using a shoe on an ordinary plow the grain was covered four inches deep. The stand in the spring was rather uneven, but with more than usual rainfall, the later spring growth was good. The wheat began heading May 27. From this date on it plainly showed the need of water. The straw was short and heads pinched in appearance. The cutting was done July 9. The threshing gave the following results: Barley, 49.1 pounds; wheat, 166.8 pounds; rye, 155.8 pounds.

These results of grain raising without water show the practice to be doubtful unless in small area. In certain favored localities raising crops without irrigation this may be advisable. Each farmer can readily settle the question on his own farm.

RAMIE.

May 18 342 ramie plants, obtained from California, were set out. It was noticed when the plants were taken from the package that they appeared to be dead, and later results were such as to confirm this belief, although they were planted according to instructions. Seventeen plants lived. This plant is favorably spoken of by the California Station. Prof. Hilgard says in a letter that four crops can be grown in California. A few extracts from a circular issued by a California company will give some idea of the plant and its uses.

"The ramie, or ramie plant, is a native of the East Indian Archipelago. It belongs botanically to the Utticaca family, of which it is the finest variety, and is known to science under the name of Boehmeria Tenacissima.' Rameh is the Japanese name for the plant, which may be popularly described as a gigantic nettle without stings. It is not identical with China grass-Boehmeria nevea-as commonly supposed, the ramie fiber being far superior in texture and luster.

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From ramie a fiber is extracted which, under proper management, is superior to that of any textile plant. Unlimited seem to be the uses to which it may be put for manufacturing purposes. The fiber, when

prepared for the spinner, is beautifully white, soft and glossy, closely resembling floss silk in appearance. It is much stronger than the best flax, and readily receives the most difficult dyes without injury to its strength or luster. Carefully prepared, it may be made heavier and more durable than silk, and its coarser products may be made heavier and more durable than the strongest tow. It is fine, it is strong, and, as its name, 'Tenacissima,' implies, it is durable. Velvet and laces made of ramie will last a life time, and are almost as beautiful as if made of silk. In fact, whatever fabric is demanded, from the lightest. gauze to the heaviest canvas, ramie will supply.

It stands to reason that the building up of an industry based upon the cultivation of this plant opens up vast possibilities. Ramie seems to be destined to take a pre-eminent place among manufactures of this class in the world's commerce. The world has to be clothed, and the article which will accomplish the object in the best manner and for the least money must inevitably lead in supplying the market. That article. is ramie, and its general introduction will start up numbers of factories to give employment to our people. Let our people pay such attention to this matter as its importance demands and America, instead of paying tribute to the skilled labor of the Old World, will manufacture a cheaper and better material than can be introduced from either cotton or silk. No part of the United States is better adapted to the cultivation of this plant than the Pacific Coast.

"A number of years ago the Committee on Fibrous and Textile Substance at the Seventh Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics' Institute reported as follows:

"We do not propose a premium, because this enterprise is as yet but an experiment, but from a careful` examination of the subject we are strongly convinced that the cultivation of this most valuable plant can be successfully introduced into California. Wherever Indian corn can be raised in perfection, there will the ramie grow. It promises such large profits that, if once introduced, it must soon become the great staple of our State.'

There are thousands upon thousands of acres of land lying untouched by the hand of industry in our State that can, by the cultivation of this plant, be made to return a magnificent reward to the husbandman. Lands so far away from market as to render the raising of grain unprofitable because of the cost of transportation, will, if planted in ramie, yield to the farmer tenfold the market value of his grain.

"Up to a recent period, however, a great and, as it seemed, insurmountable, obstacle existed to the extensive cultivation of ramie. This obstacle was the want of a machine to properly decorticate or defiberize the plant Ramie has a woody stem, covered with the epidermis, under which, like the nerve system, lies the fine silky, but remarkably strong fiber, embedded in a gummy substance. The latter, in conjunction with the pith and epidermis, had, until quite recently, defied all attempts to subject the plant to efficient decortication, and thus render it available for the market, ready to successfully run the gauntlet of cotton, linen, jute, hemp and silk. From this may be judged the immense importance of the discovery which forms the objective point of this circular. It is nothing less than a great success, after endless labor, the invention of a perfect machine which accomplishes in the most complete and satisfactory manner, the decortication of ramie when in a dry state, and putting it into a shipping condition."

SUGAR BEETS.

The results of trials made with sugar beets at the Station for 1891 are given in Bulletin No. 13. Two shipments were made to Dr. Wiley, Chemist to the United States Department of Agriculture. The work with the sugar beets at the Station and the results given by farmers from different parts of the State tell us as clearly as can be told in one season, that Nevada can produce sugar beets of sufficient quality for manufacturing purposes and in any quantity to suit the demand.

Hon. H. H. Springmeyer says in a letter that with a factory 10,000 acres can be raised in his locality.

Mr. John Harrison of Lovelocks estimates that a similar amount can be raised in l.is part of the State.

With a judicious management of the water problem the farming possibilities of the State, including fruit, are extensive.

SEED BUILDING.

The seed building erected in August was of great help in getting the Fair exhibit ready, in giving storage room for head samples and threshed grain; also, affording room for the cleaning of grain and repairing tools. A portion of the second story, in the absence of a specially fitted building, was used for storing tobacco. The farm house erected this season was a much needed improvement for Mr. H. B. Brown and family.