The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-13
Experimental Station at A. and n
College. ~

AGRICULTURAL ooLLnoE, Feb 4, 1854.
Hon. Geo. W. billiard, Senate Chamber
Jackson, Miss;
MH Dean S1R--In reply TO your request
of recent date, that communicate tUi you
my views of Senator Harvey's hill for or
ganizing an Experimental Station at the
A. and NJ. College respectfully submit.
l think the bill an excellent one, and prob
ably as good a one as could be gotten up.
No material changes necessary in Il, that
suggest themselves 10 any mind. / think
that it covers the ground very completely.
II is slightly different from any other Ssta-
ton bills with which / am acquainted. but
that is to its advantage perhaps. II gives
the board great deal of latitude, which
may be very much TO its advantage, as It
would enable them, 10 meet any little diff
Guilty that might arise, which i is impossi-
BILE to foresee in making law. most
heartily endorse the bill because:
/. 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 a
station would afford. There is very large
number Of progressive men in the State
who see that the salvation of the State de-
pends upon the .developmsnt Of her agri-
cultural resources. They know what these
stations have done for every State and
couss1y where they have been organized,
aud they feel that it is time for US TO, take
a step in this direction. As l understand
it, the bill is directly the outcome of the
exertions of an Agricultural Society at
Canton, and would have been introduced
two years ago, had it not been for the. re-
Quest of some of those who were looking
directly after the immediate needs of the
A. d NJ. College, and who feared that il
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 It will have 10 hear
them at the next session, As understand
il, those who are at the back Of this bill de
mand it because they realize that our pres
emit system Of agriculture is based as 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 laI
boratory. Our improved methods Of eul-
ture, our improved varieties OF grain, fruit,
potatoes, roots, etc, represent the accdfnu-
late experience Of many years, and Of thous-
ands of eXperimenters in all parts Of the
world. Our present stage of agricultural
Development has been reached by laborious
Experimentation, and IL We are TO 20 fur
ther, and develop any more, We- will
continue to experiment. 1t is no new tan
Rled idea that is proposed, by which
it Is thought Hgricult1re 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 solYed ipathe
South and which must be solved before the
highest stage OF prosperity win be reached.
tis to meet this necessity that the tanners
have called for an experiment station -
2. Because believe they need more eH-
act inclination upon the mutual relations
Of the atmosphere. Water and soil upon
the growth Of plants; upon the physiology
Of plants embracing everything re-
lating 10 the conditions of their growth;
upon the diseases of plants and all
of the enemies that attack them;
upon the chemical composition. of
ali kinds Of Agricultural plants, and at iif-
ferent stages of growth; upon-the chemical
experiments with manures Of aff-k ar5
an kinds Of crops; upon the composition
Of domestic animals and their setrelfofIs.
including milk; upon the lc0mpositfoub Of
fOdders and foods; upon the preparation
and preservation Of fodder; upon the d.
gestiOn and digestibility Of folders; Upon
the productions Of various Animalsln mbat,
milk, butter, wool, ETC.; upon the diseases
Of stock peculiar TO the South; upon-well,
everything connected with agriculture Of
the South, whether il be climate, plant,
animal or soil.
3. This information can be obtained
more oheaply and better through such n
station or such stations than thrOurhi any
other means. The experiments thus made
are public property, and are for the
use Of all the farmers IN the State. The
irrregular and unscientifci experiueats
conducted every year by enterprising farm
srs In the State probably cost more than
sueh an ekperimsnt station would cost ana
then the iRformation gained is NOT ulads
public. The loss Of stock alone, caused bx
ignorance Of q few diseases and Their canses
and means Of prevention would pay many
times the expenses Of q station where these
could and would be investigated.
4. Because the information derived fror,
experimental stations in the Northern
States is mot Of the kind required IA tbe
Soufh. as our products and cIinata. are.
different. southern soils, products ana
diseases can only be successfully et1died M
The South, Fheee Il Is the duty 81 the poys.
ernmonts Of tho various States 10 talrss this,
necessary step to establish this station and
1pfosids ms1n5 for th6lf support
q Bacanseiit e increases the value Of rgdl
estate, as is shown By The fact thatin.th
sections OF Germany and France who're shes
farmers have followed most closely the in-
ions published BY these kfatibt thS
produCfiysnegs of re land Has inciee
from 100 to 500 per cent, and TIE Eilae iots
ffs land has been c0rros pondin9ly eq
kancod. - ~
III nave nov "a 4 haaty mannef 8itelto
kou NJ ideas of ths bill ard alao ~
s6is fot thinking 3 i meqsote y Nnlf4
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