THE DARMSTADT EXPERIMENT STATION.

J. B. LINDSEY, PH. D.

In the following pages a description is given of the organization, equipment, and work of the experiment station at Darmstadt, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. Under the directorship of Dr. Paul Wagner this station has become of widespread interest.

ORGANIZATION.

The first steps were taken to organize this station by the general secretary of the duchy, who called a meeting of all agriculturists interested at Frankfort on the Main in November, 1869. Another meeting was held the following May, and as a result, encouraged by the Government, substantial support was secured, and a board of control selected. Dr. Ernst Schulze, at present professor of agricultural chemistry in the polytechnic school at Zurich, was chosen director. In May, 1871, the laboratory was completed, and actual work began. At this second meeting the desire was expressed that the object of the station should be first and foremost to exercise a control over the sale of fertilizers, fodders, and seeds. It was also desired that the station should be ready with advice and counsel to farmers, in accordance with the latest teachings, so far as possible on all important agricultural topics, and further that it take up such special lines of investigation as might prove to be of interest to the great body of agriculturists.

At the outset the station was controlled by a variety of interests which prevented the utmost harmony, but in 1874 a reorganization took place. The present governing board consists of two representatives from each of the three agricultural societies of the duchy, together with Economic Counselor Müller, who represents the Government.

STAFF.

In 1872 Professor Schulze was succeeded by the present director, Prof. Paul Wagner. Dr. R. Dorsch has been connected with the station for a number of years as first assistant. In 1892 these two gentlemen published the first extended description of the results obtained in the special line of inquiry pursued at the station, under the title of Die Stickstoff Düngung der landwirthschaftlichen Kulturpflanzen (The nitrogen manuring of agricultural crops). The other assistants are Dr. Matz, Dr. Wellhäuser, and J. Aeby. Besides these, a helper is

employed in the laboratory and several workmen in the experiment garden, one of whom has been connected with the station for a long time, and is able to render valuable and intelligent assistance in the care of the outdoor experiments.

REVENUE.

In 1877 the income of the station was stated as follows:

The station was first established in three rooms fitted up for laboratory and office purposes in a private house in the city. Its first work was practically all of a chemical nature. Its rapid growth, however, demanded increased facilities, and in July, 1877, it was removed to its present location. The land occupied by the buildings and garden of the station is in the form of a parallelogram, having a frontage on the roadway leading from Darmstadt to Griesheim of 233 ft., and extending back to a depth of 600 ft., making about 34 acres in all. On the grounds is a dwelling house occupied by the director, and connected with this at the rear is a large wing used as a chemical laboratory. These buildings are of brick. In front and to some extent to the north of the dwelling is a small park.

The laboratory building, one and one-half stories high, is 45.5 ft. wide and 75 ft. long. It has three entrances, one to the south, one to the west leading to the experiment garden, and a third opening into the dwelling house. As one enters at the south door, the first room to the left (furnace room) is occupied by a large still with water baths and drying closets attached, and the two small rooms to the right are for storage and general purposes. The large laboratory room is 29 ft. wide by 37.5 ft. long. Opening out of this room on the north are several small rooms, used for potash and nitrogen determinations, balance room, and for office purposes. One of the two rooms on the eastern side of the large laboratory room contains the station library and the other is occupied by the director as a private study. The room above the laboratory is used for storage. The laboratory is conveniently arranged and well equipped with all apparatus necessary for the work undertaken.

The experiment garden is in the rear of the house and laboratory. To the south, on a line parallel with the laboratory, is situated a greenhouse 16.5 by 41 ft.; immediately to the west is a shed inclosed on three sides, and directly beyond in the same line are several pits made of masonry, used for the special purpose of preparing soil for the various experiments.

Directly in the rear of the laboratory are the upper and lower experiment gardens proper. The upper garden is 169 ft. long and 68 ft. wide, and is divided by a roadway some 13 ft. wide from the lower garden, which is 120 by 68 ft. The upper garden is filled with tracks on which the wagons containing the pots are run. A number of stationary tables are placed between the lines of track, on which the vegetation pots can be set in pleasant weather, thus preventing too much crowding on the wagons after the plants are considerably developed. At the eastern end of the upper garden are situated two glass houses for the protection of the pot experiments during bad weather. These are each 23.5 ft. wide by 49 ft. long. The doors at the ends (eight in number) open outward, allowing the entrance of 6 tracks. Fifteen movable windows are arranged in the top and sides for ventilation. Each glass house cost, including foundation, about $1,000.

The shed on the south side of the grounds, just outside the garden proper, is 55 ft. long and 273 ft. wide, and is inclosed on three sides, the open side facing the garden. It is used to protect the various soils during the process of sifting and mixing.

The lower garden is devoted exclusively to large cylinders sunk into the earth. To the north and west of the experiment gardens proper are plats for a family vegetable and flower garden, together with several plats where certain special experiments are conducted.

WORK OF THE STATION.

CONTROL WORK.

The station exercises control over the sale of fertilizers, feeding stuffs, and seeds. During the year 1893 the following samples were examined.

In 1887 the total number of samples examined was 2,373, showing in 6 years a very marked increase.

The method of fertilizer inspection differs from the one generally in vogue in the United States, in that the cost of analysis is paid directly either by the farmer or manufacturer. The experiment station makes