Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-08
AGRICULTURAL,
MATTER PREPARED SPECIALLY FOR
THE "REooRD UNION"
How 70 Improve the Agriculture Of the
state-Practical suggestions from
Professor Elgard.

icitude and exercise especial care In bringing
knowledge and practice Of agriculture to
the highest possible perfection. 1t has
been often said that the conditions under
which the practice OF agriculture is to be con-
Quoted are so different in California from
what they are in other parts of the world,
and particularly in that portion Of our coun-
try east of the ocky Mountains, from which
most oil. our people who are engaged in the
cultivation OF the soil immigrated that those
best versed in agriculture there are compelled
to unlearn all they knew when they came
here, and begin again to learn the first prin-
cipals Of the science and practice as adapted
to this State. This fact has never been over
stated, and has never been and never can be
fully realized, except by those who have been
compelled to realize it by the lessons OF ex-
perience. Men of intelligence and men Of
practical knowledge the very best farmers
indeed on the Atlantic slope, find that when
they begin to farm here they have but very
little if any advantage of the very novice in
agriculture We have often seen those VINO
had scarce ever seen a farm, and
knew positively nothing about practical
agriculture here or elsewhere, succeeding
here in a wonderful degree-naking large
crops and large profit, when right along be-
side them, and perhaps on the next farm
composed of the same kinds of soil, the man
of great knowledge and extensive practice
elsewhere. experienced almost constant fail
ure-made poor crops aud no money. It will
be remembered by all early settlers in this
State that it WAS the opinion of the most
practical farmers vino FIRST came here that
agriculture could never be a success in eli
mate in v hich there was practically no rain
for six months in the yesr-from April to
September-du ing the time when, if at all,
crops OF every Kind must be grown, matured
and harvested. Tdis one fact is OF itself sUtfi-
cient to illustrate how absolutely at fault is
all Knowledge gained elsewhere when brought
to apply to the cultivation Of the soil in Cali
fornis. Agriculture here is indeed q new
sciences sud new art, snd must be learned
here On the ground by actual practice Ia our
soil and in our CHM lte, or, more properly
speaking, on our soils aud our climates. The
best-schoOled sgriculturists from the agricul'
ural schools and experimental stations OF
Europe, and from the best agricultural col
leges of the Eastern States, become mere
nON1ceS III IAlS 6ClSuCc anu alt Vi dSIA-
culture here In view of this novel con-
iitiou of things; in view of the great i'm
portsuce OF the agricultural industries of the
State and the necessity of conducting those
industries in n manner to bring about the best
results, the question how to improve the agri-
culture OF The State becomes one If the great
est importance to oil our people. When cur
agriculture prospers, al classes of our people
prosper and the State grows in greatness but
8, II or,l
the State goes backwards. No persons have
had there considerations brought more wildly
before their minds and have been made to
realize more fully the Importance Of some
means of collecting and disseminating agri-
cultural knowledge in California, than those
of us who have had, in one way or another.
to do with the Agricultural Department OF
the State University. The Agricultural Col
lege in connection with that institution has
very important work before it. It occupies,
as NAV be irferre from the foregoing state
ments, a novel and original position. 1t has
absolutely new field of labor to engage in,
a new state of facts to deal with, new condi-
tions to study and understand, and a new ap-
plication is TO be made of old facts and condi-
lions. No other agricultural college in any
other State occupies go peculiar q relation to
the agriculture of the State as does cur
Agricultural College at Berkeley. 1t has
Dccn years tL1ALN W AHaAO AecCii use
full to the agriculture of the State
by adopting snd following the old methods of
teaching agricultural sciences and arts adopt
ed and successfully followed by similar insti-
buttons elsewhere. It's success has been all
that could have been expected under the cir
cumstarcss, but that success has not been
satisfactory to those charged with its man
agement, or to the agriculturists or people
generally of the State. Farmers have not
L., 1EoA1 stnl oil
for their and their children's benefit as freely
and cordially as it was expected they would.
Those who have attended the college and
gone through the course Of studies prescribed,
and graduated, have come away, it is ad-
mitted, well versed in the usual branches
taught at such institutions, but not prepared
to take the lead as practical and successful
agriculturists in any of the many branches of
that industry in this State. The practical
farmers boys, who have remained at home
giving immediate attention to the manage
mens of the farm, have gained more real
practical and valuable knowledge Of Califor-
mia agriculture than have those who have
heretofore graduated from the Agricultural
College at Berkeley. We do not make these
statements in any faulthnding spirit with
the college or those who have its management
in immediate charge. We know the difficult
ties connected with their position-they
perform the highest duties Of their
positions-but they, like all the rest
Of us, have had to feel their way over new
roads and among new facts-they have had
to adapt their course not go much by the
lights OF the past as by the circumstances OF
the present. That the Professor of Agricul-
ture in that institution fully understands the
portion he occupies and is alive to the diff
culties that surround that position, and to the
IS fbo Y,,OIa of Of
at the college 10 the peculiar and novel con-
ditions of the State, is evident to all who are
familiar with his course generally, but
recent letter of Professor Hilgard to the Gov
ernor Of the State is full of good sense and
practical suggestions and shows that he at
least understands how or in what direction
effort should be made to improve the agri.
culture of the State. That our readers may
have an opportunity to learn what the Pro.
fessors views are, we append that letter in
ull:
Hon. George @. Perkins, Governor Of
California-Dear Sir: take the liberty of
presenting for your consideration the follow
ing facts relating to the work of the depart
ment of which l have charge: 1t ia generally
understood that the Morrill, Act establishing
the agricultural colleges in the several States,
contemplates especially the education and in
struction OF youth in the sciences related to
agriculture and the mechanic arts. In the
effort toward the fulillnent of the practical
objects contemplated by that Act, considera-
BILE diversity of opinion has prevailed. and
has found expression in corresponding di-
versity of organization in the colleges estab-
Gshed in the several States. Without enter
ing upon discussion of these and CT their
respective merits, lit may be said that one
point has made itself prominently felt in all,
namely: The need Of detailed knowledge of
the agricultural features and special adspta-
lions of the States and their several agricult-
ural subdivisions, and of the experimental
investigation of the numerous practical prob
lens that meet the farmer at every turn, and
upon the solution of which so often depends
the question of profit or loss, success or fail
ure. While the performance Of the work of
agricultural surveys and experiment stations
by the colleges is not directly prescribed as
one of their functions in the fundamental
Act, experience has shown it to be one of the
= THAR Il fo-