The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-09-03
Price: 81 per Annum, Single Copy 8 Cents.

pertinent Station has done alone has
sands of tons of worthless stuff had been
sold to farmers before careful expert
ments proved their worthlessness, 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 from the mar
ket. Even the relative value of fertili-
zers that are good is point desirable to
know and the Experiment Station
gives it, crediting the exact proportions
and kind of matter that enter into each,
so that all who will may know about
them and make no mistake.
New York, Connecticut and Ohio are
among the few States that have estab-
lished Experiment Stations; and the
second annual report of the latter has
just been issued. Its experiments the
past year have been especially thorough
with reference towheat and corn culture,
and are extremely useful to farmers ev-
erywhere. Those relating to wheat were
published in September last, in separ-
ate bulletin, and were widely circulated
before the present harvest was put in.
The experiments were not simply con-
fined ''to comparative tests OF varieties,
or yields of defininite areas under the
influence of different methods of culture
and different manures." They include,
as well, careful study of the quality
and vigor of the seed the growth of the
root; "the result of checking growth in
one direction in order to stimulate at
another; the effects of self and cross
fertilization; the best time and condi-
ton for performing the various processes
| of planting, manuring, cultivating, har-
vesting, and marketing; the treatment
of insect enemies and diseases; a study
of climatic conditions, etc. All these
matters, so far as they can be, are we'll
| tabulated, and accompanied by liteal
texts in explanation thereof.
| The station takes into consideration
also potatoes and garden vegetables,
grasses and forage plants, and fruits and
flowers. Its work upon the dairy and
upon forestry is also given. so that
/ nothing which concerns the farmer has
been LEFT undone. Fifty analyses Of diff
ferent Kinds have been made, and over
] four hundred kinds of seeds have been
tested during the past year. A great
variety of grasses, weeds, grain, fruit
and vegetables have been received from
farmers to be named and identified, and
answers have been given in every case.
In fact, the station is a natural bureau
OF inquiry, and wherever it exists it eX-
poets to be serviceable through private
correspondence to the great constituency
which it represents. Its monthly bull
letlns and yearly reports are accessible
to all, and agricultural papers, and the
press generally, circulate its conclusions
on all the subjects to which it is devot-
ed.
Other things which it does are to in
vestigate and suggest remedies for rust,
smut, mildew; to show the effect of diff
ferent rations used to fatten 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, separ-
ating cream, making butter, and the
diseases of horses and COWS, come with
in its province. Nor is drying and pre-
serving fruit forgotten. The farmer is
also told very necessary thing in this
age of rapid and reckless forest destruc-
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, not only to one State but to the
whole country.
No State has ever spent the public funds
small in amount though they are for
this service---to better account than thew
render through the Experiment Station.
The services such an institution renders
in single field in one year vastly over
pays the whole expense of the Station
for long term of years. 1t is lamenta-
BILE that the great body of farmers, as vet,
themselves know so little about it, but
they will come to know, in time, when
its means of doing good will be immense
ly increased"