Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-24
Agriculture.


AEraGuNAuNAA - NFHANA"AA 'TAAANaWAH"'
The state Of Connecticut WAS the pioneer in
the establishment Of agricultural experiment
stations in this country. Tho first movement
toward establishing station IN that state was
made ia 1873 The Legislature was asked for
an appropriation Of $4,000 for The establish
ment and maintenance Of an agricultural eX-
periment station. A bill for this purpose
failed to become a law but in 1870, when
Orange Judd. as a trustee Of the Wesleyan
University at Mddletown, offered the free use
Of the ample laboratories Of that institution
together with a personal gift of $1,000, pro-
vded the legislature would appropriate $500
annually to carry on the work Of the station,
the appropriation called for was granted, and
the first agricultural experiment station IN
America went into operation the year follow
ing. The Connecticut Legislature has since
appropriated from $1,000 to $4,000 annually
for the use Of the station besides S25, 900 to
purchase land, buildings and equipments.
The station was soon removed to New Haven,
where. under the efficient direction Of Prof.
F. W. johnson Of the Sheffield scientific
school Of Yale college, it has done valuable
service for the farmers in its specially Of lab
oratory work
Other states now having agricultural eXper-
iment stations are North Carolina, New Jer-
sey, New York, Ohio and Massachusetts. The
yearly appropriation for the support Of the
New Jersey station is $1,000. The state of
New York appropriated S25, 600 for the pur-
chase of a farm and buildings, and $4,000
for the use Of the station the fret two years
Can Vermont afford to have an experiment
station Though not quite as wealthy as
Connecticut, the first state to establish one,
her agricultural interests are greater. The
total value of all farm productions in Con
necticut, according to the census Of 1880 was
SIS 600 600; in Vermont S22 coo, 600. Dr.
Hoskins of the Watchman, il suggesting q
line of work for Vermont agricultural ex-
pertinent station, says
eve believe that in order to make the value
of the station appreciated it should meet the
wants of the farmers for practical instruction
and advice as fully and rapidly as possible.
Judging by our own experience, hundreds OF
farmers in the state want some skilled source
of information where they can apply with
questions demanding immediate and practical
answers. The station should be prepared to
meet this want 1t should have on its staff
three men, capable of serving severally as
consulting dRiryman. horticulturist, and agri-
cultural chemist II would be well If mani.
fold or type-writing copies Of all answers of
Importance could be sent to any newspaper
in the state which should ask for them for
publication. Answers to Correspondents
ought to be leading work of the station, and
we know of nothing that would so soon and
so thoroughly test the ability of its staff. or
1,,in ha If 10
the farmers of the state
"'How much is this thing going to cost Z?
will be one of the first questions asked. Well,
if we go into it at all 1t Is worse than folly to
60 into 1t in such stingy way that little can
be done. At the same time tue right man, or
men, can do great deal OF good work ct a
moderate cost Five OF SIX thousand dollars
for land and buildings, and $4,000 annually
for salaries and other expenses ought TO sui
fee, at least until enough good work had been
done to satisfy the public that more money
could be used there with prof to the state"