The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-07
Experimental Station ct A. AID n.
College

MI DEAE SIR-In reply TO your request
Of recent date. that communicate 10 you
my views of Senator Haryey's bill for or
ganizing an Experimental Station at the
A. and NJ. College l respectfully submit;
| think the bill an excellent one, and prob
ably as good one as could be gotten up.
No material changes necessary in Il, that
suggest themselves to any mind. l think
that it covers the ground very completely.
1t is slightly different from any other sta
ton bill" with which am acquainted but
that is to its advantage perhaps. 1t gives
the board a great deal of latitude, which
may be very much to its advantage, as IT
would enable them TO meet any little diff
Guilty that might arise, which II is impossi-
BILE TO foresee in making law. ! most
heartily endorse the bill because:
l. / think that the farmers of Mississippi
are well enough educated and appreciate
their own needs sufficiently, TO avail them
selves OF the information which such u
station would afford. There is a very large
number of progressive men in the State
who see that the salvation of the State de-
ponds upon the development OF her agri-
cultural resources. They know what these
stations have done for every State and
country where they have been organized,
and they feel that il is time for us to take
a step in this direction. As / understand
il, the bill is directly the outcome of the
exertions OF an Agricultural Society at
! Canton. and would have been introduced
two years ago. had ii not been for the re-
Quest of some Of those who were looking
directly after the immediate needs Of the
A. q NJ. College, and who feared that it
would iniure the prospects of the College.
am convinced, however, that they are
now determined to force the measure be-
fore the people, and if the Legislature does
not hear them this time ii will have TO hear
them at the next session, As understand
| it, those who are at the back of this bill de-
mand it because they realize that our pres
ent system of agriculture is based rs much
upon the results of experiments, as the pres
ent science of chemistry, which is eminent
| ly an experimental science, is based upon
the results of experiments made in the la.
boratory. Our improved methods OF cul-
ture, our improved varieties of grain, fruit,
potatoes roots, etc, represent the accumu-
late experience of many years, and of thons-
ands of experimenters in all parts of the
world. Our present stage of agricultural
development has been reached by laborious
experimentation, and if we are to go fur
ther, and develop any more, We will
continue to experiment. II is no new fan
gled idea that is proposed, by which
it is thought agriculture can be advanced,
it is strengthening the old way by setting
aside men trained in the art of experiment.
ing, who can devote their whole time to the
work instead of merely such scanty leisure
as comes to the farmer. Agriculture in the
South cannot stand still any more than can
any other practical art. There are prob.
lens involved in the agriculture Of the
South which can only be solved in the
South and which must be solved before the
highest stage of prosperity will be reached
tits TO meet this necessity that the farmers
have called for an experiment station.
=. Because believe they need more ex'
act information upon tho mutual relations
of the atmosphere. Water and soil upon
the growth of plants; upon the physiology
of plants embracing everything re-
la.i to the conditions of their growth
upon the diseases of plants and al
of the enemies that attack them
upon the chemical composition Of
ali kinds of agricultural plants, and at diff
ferent stages of growth; upon the chemical
composition of manures of all kinds; upon
experiments with manures of all kinds and
all kinds of cro9s; upol the composition
OF domestic animals and their secretions
including milk; upon the composition OF
folders and foods; upon the preparation
! and preservation of fodder; upon the di
| l,,-o.4,A;I;A,- ~ faIdapa.
the productions of various animals in meat
milk, butter, wool, etc; upon the diseases
} of stock peculiar TO the South; upon well
everything connected with agriculture Of
the South, whether it be climate, plant
animal or soil.
3. This information can be obtained
more cheaply and better through such .
station or such stations than through any
other means. The experiments thus made
are public property, and are for the
use OF all the farmers in the State. The
: irregular and unscientiac experiments
conducted every year by enterprising farm
ers in the State probably cost more thar
such an experiment station would cost, anC
then the information gained is not made
public. The loss of stock alone, caused by
ignorance of few diseases and their causes
and means of prevention would pay many
times the expenses of station where these
: could and would be investigated.
, 4. Because the information derived from
[ experimental stations in the Northern
States is not of the kind required in thu
South, as our products and climate arr
different. Southern soils, products ant
diseases can only be successfully studied il
, the South, where it is the duty of the gov
ernments Of the various States to take tn,
necessary step to establish this station ant
provide means Tor their support.
8. Because it increases the value of rea
estate, as is shown by the fact that in thos,
i. sections of Germany and France where thu
: farmers have followed most closely the in
/, structions published by these station, tn
D productiveness OF the land has increases
7 from 100 TO 600 per cent, and the value o
t the land has been correspondingly ad
l vanced
g have nov in hasty manner given Il
{ You my ideas Of the bill and also stated M
, reasons for thinking it is a measure whicl
! is worthy of the support of intelligent AM
/. progressive citizens. / trust that / hav
made myself clear, and highly appreciat
the honor that you confer upon me by call
6 ing upon me for an expression of opinion
: especially as consider this one Of the mos
! important measures connected with agri
| culture that has yet been brought before on
! Legislature. am, sir, very respectful
| Your obedient'servant,
!, JHoS A. MYEBs.