The Florida agriculturist., 1883-01-17

perior to Florida. None equal, nm
less possibly California. And after
our people have acquired little
more confidence in this Ito them)
s'new method" of farming, the old
rninous $40 to SIS per acre system,
will be abandoned forever.
1t will scarcely be questioned from
what has already been said, that an
Inspecting Department would be-
come seli-sustaining from its incipi>
ency, A few thousand dollars will
be required, it is true, tor iabratorles
and salaries the first year or two but
only as loan. In little while the
Department will command an income
more than adequate to refund all adj
vances, end meet every obligation.
The interest on the Agricultural
College tund-obtained, as is we'll
known, by the sale of lands donated
by Congress for an Agricultural Col
lege-amounts this year to little
over $4,000. 1t is said the curators
of this fund contemplate at some fu-
ture day, after sufficient sum has
accumulated, the erection of a grand
college LOT which the State may well
be proud" 1t is to be hoped, how>
ever. that wiser counsels will prevail.
The experiences of several Northern
States, with ten times our capital,
have INDUCED similar fancy for
magnificent Agricultural Colleges, 10
small profit. They send forth a few
graduates each year, who are better
informed on every other subject than
agriculture. But asioe from objec-
tions of this character, which might
very properly be urged against sui
fering that S,nd to lie longer unem5
ployed, Notwithstanding it's increase
| BY compound interest. Is the pressing
need for it at this particular Einep
The encouraging prospect held out
by the future in the way of large i'm
migration, enhanced value of lands,
cheap rates of transportation, new
markets for products, etc, warrants
the belief that the next generation
will be abundantly able to provide
for it's own wants. Beside, every et
fort now expended 10 foster agricul>
ture, and instruct the rising genera
tion to appreciate aud utilize the ina
ny advantages OF soil and climate
free to The humblest citizen Of Flor~
ida, is calculated to hasten the advent
of general and substantial prosperity.
A deliberate consideration of all
the interests to be subserved, has
suggested the following plan, which
is designed to advance in seVefal
ways, both directly and indirectly.
the great cause of agriculture
Apply part, or the whole, if ne~
cessary, OF the annually accruing in
terest OF the Agricultural College
fund to the equipment Of two chairs
OF Chemistry. One tor each OF the
State seminaries, having espe cial rei~
erence TO the claims or agriculture.
Let the incumbents of these chars,
in addition to their ordinary duties
of instruction, be also required to act
as analytic chemists to the State for
those geographical sections now trib-
utary to the seminaries respectively.
Now for TIE COST
The services OF a CT mpetent chem
ist are worth $4,000 per annum, or
$4,000 for the two. AS Tor suitable
labratories, it can be stated upon the
authority OF the Agricultural Com-
missioner of Georgia, that the one
used by That State cost 81 900 in 1874,
the year her system of Inspection
was inaagurated 1t is true her pres
ent analytic chemist, Prof. White,
who was elected about two years
since, is also profeSso. of chemistry
in her University, and OF course has
the use OF the magnificent labratory
belonging to that Institution which
cost originally $4,000. The expense
Of providing one or two Inspectors
will be tridlng. Georgia has seven,
a1d instead OF perquis-tes or commits
sions, pays them salaries averaging
$743 each. In place of Commis>
sioner, one OF tie cabinet officers
might be required TO exercise gen.
eral supervision.