The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-10-01
THE EXPERIMENT STATION,
WHAT 1T Is, AND TIE PHAtTlCAL
USES TO WHICH IN - Put.
An Excellent InsiiiHiion-A wonder that
Farmers Know - Lliue About IT,



The Expcrimcn, Station is n farm,
fully equipped and offered by the
State, aud set apart for tlie purpose OF
making experiments with fertilizers and
origina! manures, soils, waters, milk,
cattlc-food, etc. 1t examines seed that Is
suspected OF adulteratiop, or tia. RE
imperfect in any way; i Classics and
reports upon all the various weeds, and
makes studies OF the different insect
pests, while not forgetting to name the
insects which are beneficial. to the farmer.
1t is evident tina; in this way, through
scientific Investigators, body Of H.
formation can he procured which soon
becomes Of the utmost value to every
farmer, and which be- could no! possibly
afford to attain, il he ccuid hy any means
attain il, for himself.
In tho single matter Of fertilizers
which are described Us Commercial, ;"
because they are manufactured fot sale
the benefit which the Connecticut TX.
pertinent Station has done alone, has
been incalcnlable. Hundreds and thou
sands Of tons Of worthless stun had been
sold TO farmers before careful expert.
ments proved their worthlessncss, under
names OF attractive sound, that can no
longer be sold TO farmers who keep
abreast Of the times, and which are.
therefore, virtually driven outoi ihcmir
ket. Even the relative value Of icriil.
izers that are cool is a point desirable
to know; AMI the Experiment Station
gives 1t. crediiing the exact Proportions
ard kind Of matter that enter into each,
so that all who will, may know abou:
them and make no mistake.
New YoIk, Connection, and Ohio aye
among the few States hat has. cstab-
lished the Experiment Station; tai the
second annual rcpor. U! the latter, which
is now before us, has Just been Issued.
Its experiments the past yejr have been
especially thorough with reference to
wheat and corn culture, and are tx.
ircmely usefu. TO farmers evcrywhrr,.
Those relating to whoa, were published
in September last, in asepara.c bulletin,
and were widely circulated before the
present harvested crop was put in. The
experiments were not simply conlucl
80 comparative tests OF varieties. or
yields of definite areas under the iAiiu-
ence of different methods OF culture and
different manures." They include, as
well, careful study oi tie quality and
vigor Of the seed; the growth Of tue
root; ''the result of checking growth in
one direction in order Ia stimulate an
other; the effects OF self and cross fertil-
ization:" the best time and condition for
performing the various processes Of
planting, manuring, cultiyating. harvest
ing and marketing; the treatment Of in
sect enemies and diseases; stndy OF
climatic conditions, etc. All these mat
tiers, SO far rs they eau be, are we'll tabu.
lated, and accompanied by literal text
in exp nation thereof.
The Station takes into consideration
also potatoes aud garden vegetables.
grasses and forage plants, and fruits and
flowers. Its work upon the dairy and
upon forestry is also given, so that moth
ing which concerns the farmer has been
left undone. Fifty analyses OF different
kinds have been made, and over four
hundred kinds I'll seed have been tested
during the past year. 4 great variety
Of grasses, weeds, grain, fruit and vego.
tables, have been received from farmers
TO be named aud identified, and answers
have been given in every case. In fact,
the Station is natural bureau for in.
quiry, and wherever it exists It expects
to be serviceable through private core.
spondencc to the great constituency
which it represents. It's monthly bullc.
tins and yearly reports are accessible TO
all, and agricultural papers, and the
press generally. circulate Us conclusions
on all the subjects to which it is de.
voted.
Other things which it does are 10 in.
yestigate and suggest remedies for rust
smut, mildew; b. show the effect of dit.
erent rations used TO ia,ten stock. and
the effect OF the same upon the various
dairy products; and the susceptibility OF
different breeds to different influences.
All the processes of setting milk, separa-
ting cream, making butter, and the lis.
eases of horses and cows, come within
its province. Nor is driving and pre-.
serving fruit forgotten. The farmer is
also told very necessary thing in this
age of rapid and reckless forest dcstruc-
tion-how the best trees can be easily
and cheaply grown from the seed. The
best time to cut timber. and the way TO
preserve it, is Likewise shown. This
service alone will be, in time, OF untold
benefit, no. only to one State but to the
whole country.
No State has ever devoted the public
.funds-small III amount though they arc
for this service--to better account than
they render through the Experiment
Station. The services such an ins,tu-
ton renders in single field in one year
vastly overpays the whole expense of the
Station for long term of years. It is
lamentable that the great body Of farm.
ers, as yet, themselves know so little
about it; but they will come TO know,
in time, when its means Of doing good
will be immensely increased. Only iif-
teen hundred letters have been received
from Ohio farmers the past year by the
Station there established il has only
completed, so far, its second year. A
few years hence, when it becomes FL
miliar to all, the correspondence re-
ceived should not be less than fifty thou.
sand letters annually.