Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station facts for kids

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The Johnson-Horsfall Laboratory, located at the main laboratories, New Haven
Location in Connecticut Show map of Connecticut Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut
Area	6.25 acres (2.53 ha)
Built	1882
Part of	Prospect Hill Historic District (ID79002670)
NRHP reference No.	66000805
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	July 19, 1964
Designated CP	November 2, 1979

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) is a special place in Connecticut where scientists do important research. They study farming, plants, bugs, and the environment. Their goal is to help farmers, protect nature, and keep people healthy.

CAES is the oldest station of its kind in the United States. It started way back in 1875! Its main job is to "discover new scientific facts, make farming better, protect the environment, keep plants safe, and improve human health."

The station has a main science center in New Haven. It also has research farms in Hamden and Griswold. Plus, there's another research center and farm in Windsor.

A Historic Science Campus

The main home of the experiment station is in the Prospect Hill area of New Haven. It has been there since 1882. This is where the first state agricultural experiment station officially settled down.

The station first started at Wesleyan University in 1875. Then, it moved to Yale University in 1877. But by 1882, the scientists needed more room for their work. So, the state bought a 5-acre property on Prospect Hill. They spent $25,000 to build new labs and offices.

Some of these old buildings are still there. The Osborne Library, built in 1882-83, is thought to be the oldest building at any state agricultural experiment station. The Johnson Laboratory is also very old and has unique wide roofs.

Because it was the very first state agricultural station, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964. This means it's a very important historical place in the nation.

Today, the main campus in New Haven is home to six different science departments. These include: Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Genetics, Entomology, Environmental Sciences, Forestry and Horticulture, and Plant Pathology and Ecology.

What Scientists Study Today

Analytical Chemistry: Testing for Safety

This department was one of the first at the station, starting in 1875. Back then, they tested things like fertilizer and animal feed. Today, they still test many things to keep us safe.

They work with state and federal groups to check food for pesticides and other harmful chemicals. They can also test toys and other products for dangerous substances. Scientists here also look at heavy metals in soil. They are even studying how tiny particles called nanoparticles might affect crops and our food.

Biochemistry and Genetics: Understanding Life

This department started in 1888, focusing on plant proteins. Now, scientists here mostly study plant genetics. This means they look at the DNA of plants to find ways to make crops better.

For example, they are finding genes in plants that can help protect roots from tiny worms called nematodes. They also help protect honeybee colonies. They create tests to find diseases in bees early, which helps keep them healthy.

Entomology: The World of Insects

Entomology is the study of insects. This department does important research on Lyme disease. They study the blacklegged tick, which carries the disease in Connecticut. They also test thousands of ticks sent in by people to check for diseases.

Scientists here also work on controlling harmful insects that are not from this area. These include the Asian long-horned beetle and the emerald ash borer. They try to find ways to stop these bugs from harming trees. The department also helps farmers use fewer pesticides by finding natural ways to control pests.

Environmental Sciences: Protecting Our Surroundings

Since 1909, the station has studied mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. Today, this department collects mosquitoes from all over Connecticut. They test them for diseases like West Nile virus.

They also map where invasive water plants are growing in the state. Then, they look for ways to stop these plants from spreading. Scientists also study how certain plants can clean up polluted soil. This is called Phytoremediation. They test soil samples for people and businesses in Connecticut too.

Forestry and Horticulture: Plants and Trees

This department looks for new crops that grow well in Connecticut. They study different types of vegetables like Chinese cabbage and special tomatoes. They also research grapes for wine.

Scientists here also study White-tailed deer behavior. They hope to find ways to keep deer away from roads to prevent accidents. They also want to stop deer from damaging young trees and gardens. The department has been studying forest plots since 1927 to see how forests change over time.

Plant Pathology and Ecology: Healthy Plants

This department studies plant diseases and how plants interact with their environment. Their goal is to find ways to keep plants healthy without using too many pesticides.

They research how tiny particles might affect plant diseases. They also study the genetics of plant diseases and work to protect Connecticut vineyards from new viruses. This department also tests seeds and helps people identify plant diseases.

Valley Laboratory: Research in Windsor

The Valley Laboratory in Windsor, CT used to be called the "Tobacco Substation." It has a long history of helping farmers grow better tobacco for cigars.

Today, scientists at the Valley Lab study many things. They research crops that can be used for biofuel. They also work on managing invasive plants and finding ways to control pests for plant nurseries.

Lockwood Farm: A Place for Testing

Lockwood Farm is a research farm named after William Raymond Lockwood. He left money to CAES, which helped buy the land in Hamden, CT in 1909.

In the past, scientists at the farm tested natural ways to fight plant diseases. Since 1931, the farm has also taken daily weather measurements. This helps scientists understand Connecticut's climate. Many different plant types and growing methods are tested here. Every August, the farm hosts a special event called Plant Science Day.

Griswold Research Center: New Discoveries

The Griswold Research Center is the newest addition to CAES. It has 14 acres of farmland in Griswold, CT and a forest area nearby.

Scientists here study grape vines that can handle cold weather. They also research growing rapeseed for biofuel. They look for ways to naturally control tiny worms called nematodes in the soil. This center also has an office for the State Bee Inspector, who checks on Connecticut's honeybee populations.

Leaders of the Station

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has had only nine directors in its long history:

• Dr. Wilbur Olin Atwater (1875–1877)
• Dr. Samuel William Johnson (1877–1900)
• Dr. Edward H. Jenkins (1900–1922)
• Dr. William L. Slate (1923–1947)
• Dr. James G. Horsfall (1948–1971)
• Dr. Paul E. Waggoner (1972–1987)
• Dr. John F. Anderson (1987–2004)
• Dr. Louis A. Magnarelli (2004–2013)
• Dr. Theodore G. Andreadis (2013–present)

Important Science Discoveries

Amino Acids and Vitamins

In 1909, CAES chemist Thomas B. Osborne worked with Lafayette Mendel from Yale University. They studied how well different proteins from seeds helped animals grow.

They found that the type and quality of protein were more important than just the amount. They learned that some amino acids (the building blocks of protein) were missing in proteins from grains. For example, rats fed only corn protein (called zein) got sick and died. This was because zein was missing two important amino acids: lysine and tryptophan. When these were added, the rats grew well. This showed that animals need certain "essential" amino acids from their food.

Osborne and Mendel also helped discover vitamins. They noticed that young rats eating a diet with enough protein and carbs, but with vegetable fats instead of butter, would get sick. Their eyes would get sore. But when a little butter was added, the rats got better and grew normally. This "unknown substance" in butter was later found to be Vitamin A. Other scientists also discovered vitamins around the same time.

How Hybrid Corn Was Developed

In the early 1900s, CAES scientists Edward M. East and Herbert K. Hayes worked to make corn better. They wanted to improve its quality and how much it produced. They found that crossing two different types of corn made a stronger, bigger plant. This new plant was called a hybrid.

Later, in 1914, Donald F. Jones came to the station. He built on their work. In 1917, he explained why hybrid corn was so much better. He also created a "double-cross" hybrid corn. This new type came from four different corn lines and was even stronger!

Jones shared his method in 1919. This made it possible for farmers to grow much more corn. Later, Jones also found a way to make hybrid corn production easier and cheaper.

The "Morgan" Method for Soil Testing

Dr. M. F. Morgan was the head of the Soils Department for 20 years. He created a special way to test soil. This method, still used today, helps farmers know what nutrients their plants can get from the soil. It helps them understand if the soil has too little or too much of certain nutrients.

Dr. Morgan was also a soldier in World War II. Sadly, he was killed in action in the Philippines in 1945. His soil test became the first widely used method to check soil health around the world.

Discoveries About Tick-Borne Diseases

In 1975, many children in Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut, got a type of arthritis. Scientists at CAES were among the first to figure out that this disease was carried by ticks.

After this, scientists like Dr. John F. Anderson and Dr. Louis A. Magnarelli helped find the tiny germ that causes Lyme disease in humans. They also helped create tests to find out if people were infected with Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses.

Important Moments in History

1875: The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is created. It's the first in the United States! 1882: The Station moves to its current home on Huntington Street in New Haven. 1890: Dr. Roland Thaxter figures out what causes potato scab (a plant disease). 1900: Farmers in Connecticut start growing special tobacco under cloth. This makes very good cigar wrappers. 1903: The first "spray calendar" for pesticides is given to Connecticut farmers. 1905: The first gypsy moth is found in Connecticut. 1907: Chestnut blight (a tree disease) is first seen in Connecticut. 1913: Thomas B. Osborne and Lafayette B. Mendel show that animals need 20 essential amino acids in their diet. They also find a "yellow substance" in butterfat that is vital for growth, which turns out to be Vitamin A. 1917: Donald F. Jones creates the first hybrid corn using a four-way cross. He also explains why hybrid corn is so strong. 1919: Jones invents a "double cross" method. This makes it possible to grow hybrid corn for sale. 1921: The Valley Laboratory is started in Windsor, CT. 1933: Dutch elm disease is found in Connecticut. 1938: The first report of X-disease in peach trees in the U.S. 1942: Dr. M. F. Morgan, who created the Morgan method of soil testing, is killed in World War II. 1949: A. E. Dimond develops a way to treat Dutch elm disease with an injection. 1960: Scientists find a virus that causes encephalitis in mosquitoes in Connecticut. 1975: Scientists show that a fungus can help control chestnut blight. 1983: John F. Anderson and Louis A. Magnarelli, with others, find the germ that causes Lyme disease in ticks and animals. 1989: Scientists discover the fungus that caused gypsy moth populations to crash. 1994: A scientist gets the first permit to release a natural way to fight chestnut blight in a Connecticut forest. 1995: Scientists show that people with Lyme disease also have antibodies to germs that cause other tick-borne illnesses. 2005: The Analytical Chemistry department is chosen to help the Food and Drug Administration with food safety. 2009: The Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases is created at the Station. This helps scientists better understand diseases carried by insects. 2010: New ways are developed to test seafood from the Gulf of Mexico for oil pollution. 2011: Scientists find the Emerald Ash Borer in Connecticut for the first time. 2012: Scientists identify Boxwood Blight in Connecticut for the first time. 2012: The Analytical Chemistry department tests food for safety at big political meetings. 2013: Valley Laboratory scientists get a patent for a disease-resistant strawberry called "Rubicon." 2014: The Station starts a special fellowship program for new scientists. 2015: The renovated Jenkins-Waggoner Laboratory opens.

See also

In Spanish: Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station para niños