The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-09
Experiments and Experimental Stations.


it when discovered. An experimentre-
quires that something shall be done to
bring certain objects into new relation
to each other. The result may be posi-
tive or negative, but if the object be
practical the negative result may be
just as important. Il is often worth as
much to know the existence of an error
as of a fact.
An agricultural experiment is made
for the purpose of learning something
new about the production of crops, the
production of meat or wool, the feeding
of animals, the value and uses of differ
ent foods. Agriculture is based on the
result of experiments. Nature works in
so many different ways that the produc-
ton of crops requires as many
different methods of culture as
there are diversities of soil, eli
mate and atmospheric conditions in
the varying seasons. Improvement is
the direct result of experiment. I'm
proved methods of culture, improved
varieties of grain and improved breeds
OF animals are instances of work of eX-
perimentation. A good farmer is al
ways experimenting and many Door
ones do so also. The object generally
IS pecuniary one with the expectation
of some benefit. The results of such
experiments are not generally widely
published, particularly if they are un-
successful or do not prove the affirmative
OF the object sought. Farmers do not
like to publish their failures and conse-
quently private experiment that
exhibited a negative result that may
have been Just as valuable to
make known as though it were positive
is not allowed to 90 beyond the knowl-
edge of the one who made the test.
Successful farming requires continual
experiments and skill in devising and
Interpreting experiments. Private eX-
periments will continue and will yield
useful results in the future as it has
heretofore, but there is a vast quantity
of work of kind that gives no pecuni-
airy benefit whatever to those who do it,
but whose results are of vast pecuniary
importance to agriculture. and the ex-
pertinent station will supply the oppor-
tunity for this kind of work Take for
instance the oft-quoted table prepared
by Emil Wolfe, who was director of the
first experimental station established in
Germany. showing the fenJino value
and dieSsfibilitv of various foods This
work was too great and expensive to be
undertaken as a private ENTERPRISE with
the expectation OF deriving pecuniary re-
turns. but the public experiment station
furnished the means and the opportun-
ity.
And to show the value of these tables
and the interest taken in the results there
established. the fact that they are nub-
lished and quoted all over this country
as we'll as in Germany. and this without
our bcinr positive that animal foods
grown under different culture or differ
ent soils and in another climate may not
vary materially in feedino nronerties or
II is time we had Such ts-
bles from an American experimnnter.
and such also As have been proven cor
rect both chemically and practically bv
actual tests in feedino.
Aoain. the farmer has not the time to
closely watch the PROGRESS of the exner-
iment or the skill to trace the various re-
lations of cause and effect in the differ
ent stages. Accurate experiments need
minute attention to details, a close OBJ
servation of all the conditions under
which the work progresses and scientific
skill to so arrange the combinations and
conditions as to produce useful and prac-
teal results. An example of expert
ments requiring this kind of skill is that
instituted by Prof Atwater of the Con-
necticut experimental station in the
series OF experiments he has instituted
in regard to the source OF nitrogen in
plants.
All this comes at season Of the year
when farmers are busy with the every
day work of the farm and cannot spare
the time for such work, be he ever SO
capable. Another absolute necessity in
experimental tests is the chemical labor
atory and the skilled chemist There is
scarcely an experiment in the line of
progress but that needs his services.
This cannot be had except where special
provision has been made for it. The ex-
pertinent station supplies such apparatus,
time or special skill as the farm cannot
furnish. They also can give much sci
entific information in regard to farm
matters. and the annual results can be
In word they can make themselves