The Future of Farming at Washington Agricultural College
A visit to the Pullman campus reveals the experimental work being done to improve Eastern Washington's agricultural yields.
A pleasant visit was spent at the Washington Agricultural College in Pullman. President Enoch A. Bryan reported a record attendance of 356 students from across the region. The college offers a wide array of departments, ranging from civil engineering to veterinary science. During a tour of the experimental farm with Professor W. J. Spillman, the focus was on testing forage plants for the uplands of Eastern Washington. Hairy vetch has emerged as a promising crop, as it is nitrogen-rich and resistant to the squirrels that often destroy field peas. The station is also testing various grasses, including bromus inermis and native bunch grasses, to help local ranchers improve their hay yields. Additionally, the college is conducting breeding experiments with dairy and beef cattle and maintaining a high-quality chemistry laboratory under Professor Elton Fulmer, who is currently preparing a comprehensive bulletin on Washington soils.
“The wheat gives the vetch something to climb on. Without it it lies so close on the ground as to be difficult to harvest.”
This report highlights the early days of what is now Washington State University. The agricultural research conducted in the 1890s, particularly regarding soil health and crop resilience, laid the foundation for the massive agricultural economy that still defines the Palouse and Eastern Washington today.
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