The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-12-20

EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS nv DIR. J. R
NICHOLS.

N any SIAttu1cuS Oh the OtucHSS WutCt
science has conferred upon the farming
interests, the inference must naturally fol-
low that very many farmers have not Sc
cured or participated in the benefits 50
freely and generously offered. This arises
from several circumstances and obstacles.
Some are naturally disinclined to examine
into new methods and new discoveries
they prefer the old ways, and have little
confidence. Others are too Indifferent to
give attention to that which requires 3
little thought and the exercise of discrim-
mating judgment. There are farmers, as
we'll as men in other pursuits, who seem
to have been born under the influence of
evil planets; their dish, SO to speak, is
always wrong side up. They come into
the world the discouraged offspring Of
perhaps discouraged mothers, and their
mental feebleness units them to command
advantages which the world offers. But
the greatest obstacle is a want of proper
instruction, the want of some elementary
training in the principles of science to al
ford foothold for independent investi-
L
of agricultural education is based on the
idea that farmers boys and the young
men must be educated by attending some
agricultural college, so called, for term
of years; but the farmers themselves,
the real workers in the field, may be left
to obtain light and help from the proftless
disputes and endless discussions common
in farmers clubs, or from the vapid talk
of politicians at fairs and cattle shows.
This is manifestly all wrong, and | am
certain, gentlemen, you will sustain me in
so Judging. 1t is an erroneous view that
men in middle life, and those further adj
vanced, are not willing to be instructed
accurately in those branches of scientific
knowledge which give to modern hus-
bandry all its important advantages. The
young men may attend the agricultural
colleges or any other institutions of learn
ing, and be greatly benefited by pro
longed course of study; but we need
another kind OF college, farmers col
lege, where the practical workers can be
graduated without diplomas, at the end
of a brief course of instruction extending
over few days or weeks.
/ believe that instruction in the most
important branches of science, which
have direct practical bearing upon
everyday work on the farm, can be so
shaped as to prove eminently useful and
attractive to men who are now conducting
the great farming interests of the country.
There is an intense eagerness> for sound
and accurate knowledge among such men,
and the want of it is, in my view, the
greatest hindrance to agricultural pro-
gress. This knowledge is to be distin-
guished from that which is presumed to
be obtained in clubs and institutes, mas
much as one is based on demonstrative
facts and positive knowledge; the other
is founded, TO great extent, on hasty
statements and untrustworty farm exper-
iments.
The language of science and its meth
DDS seem to most as unintelIigible and
very difficult to be learned 1t is so to
certain extent, but abstract science need
not be learned 1t would be absurd to
attempt to teach a middle-aged working
man fully regarding chemical symbols
and formulas, but you can teach him how
to estimate the money value of fertiliz-
ing compound offered for sale in the mar
kets. How few the purchasers who are
competent TO sit down in store before a
bag Of that apochryphal mixture called
"superphosphate,' and from the labels or
stencillings which purport to present
statement of the nature Of the compound
obtain any clear information of its con-
stitution or actual value ? Every farmer
certainly ought to be able to do this for
his own protection, and there is no good
reason why he cannot.
These views are based on many years
spent in scientific investigation and tech
nical work, and on twenty-five years. ex-
perience in conducting the affairs of an
experimental farm. From intimate ASSOC
citation with practical husbandmen in
many parts of the country, am conyined
that they can easily acquire the leading
facts aud principles in any department of
science. if right methods of instruction
are adopted, and that it is wrong view
which confines Instruction to youth, and
ignores the busy, working middle-aged
man who is hungering for light and knowl-
edge.
INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE UPON FRUIT CROPS.
Prominent among the benefits conferred
by science is the Improvement of our
fruit crops, It does not require memory
extending over many years to recall pc
Rod when the apple was confined almost
exclusively to varieties suited only to
cider making and as regards pears, until
within thirty years none of The really
good varieties were known upon our farms.
Peaches We had to some extent, but the
fruit was acid and imperfect Forty
years ago, not q single horticultural soci.
ETY. existed Ia the United States, and there
were but few agricultural societies now
there are more than fifteen hundred State
and county organizations. AT that period
the products of our soil were so insignif-
cant as not to be thought worthy place
In the statistics of our industry; now orr
exports amount to more than six hundred
million dollars annually OF apples alone
we exported last year one million three
hundred thousand in value, and of canned
fruits nearly one million. As regards
soft fruits, strawberries and raspberries. ]
do not remember 10 have seen cultivated
varieties until long after reaching adult
age. Now we have of strawberries alone,
cultivated ID gardens, lnore than three
hundfed aud Alty distinct varieties. Of
grapes We formerly had none but those
which grew wild il the aFsmps; now We
have about one hundred varieties under
cultivation, and grape culture i - indus.