, 1884-09-17
DOES FARMING PAY?
An Institution Which wnl Help to
Settle the Question
The "ExperIment station" and the
work which II Does for the
Henent OF The Agrieul-
turaI Glasses


lScienti1c Anericau-l
Tho time has come whom the profit OF farm
ing In the older states is 80 much n matter of
shrewd management and careful attention 70
every point that the farmer who neglecS
these things l. pretty sure TO fail IA. his yocA-
ton, You cannot nov siulply tickle tho
earth aud make her laugh with a harvest"
you have got To do fAr more. Farmers have
now begun 10 realize this as they never did
Lefoei md, amons Tie many
tna whiti they have called Ia o. their aid
one Of the lowest aud most important Is the
Agricultural Experiment station The Es-
pertinent station IS hot al. American iuvs"-
ton 1t grow FROM a necessity which only
the older countries wildly feel; and ~ It was
imported lere. IL We att not AT fault, MON
Germany.
But the reader asks. pcThat-, what it Is
that the Experiment station does. The New
York Hour gives the following brief account
Of it. object The Experiment station Is a
farm, fully equipp-d and officered by the
state, and set apart for the purpose OF making
experiments with fertilizers and original
.%nanuros, soils, waters, mix, cattle food, etc
IL examines seeds that are suspected OF adul-
t%eration, or that arc imperfect In any way;
it classifies and reports upon all the various
weeds, and makes studies OF the different in
set pests, while not forgetting 10 name the
meets that are beneficial TO the farmer. II
. evident that in this way, through scientific
investigation, ii body OF information can be
procured which soon becomes OF the utmost
value to every farmer. and which he could
not possibly afford to attain, II he could by
any means attain it for himself.
In the single matter Of fortilizers-which
arc described as commercial" because they
are manufactured for sale-the benefit which
the Connecticut Experiment station has
done alone has been in~calculable. Hundreds
and thousands 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 market. Even the relative
value OF fertilizers that are good is n point
desirable to know; and the Experiment sta
ton gives It, crediting the exnct proportions
and kind OF matter that enter into each, so
that all who will may know about them and
make do mistake.
New York, Connecticut and Ohio are
among tho few states that have established
the Experiment station; and tho second an
nual report of the latter has just been issued.
Its experiments the past year have been
especially thorough with reference to wheat
and corn culture, and are extremely useful
10 farmers everywhere. Those relating to
wheat were published in September last, in n
es.airate bulletin, and were widely vircu-
lated before the present harvested crop WINS
put IN The experiments were not simply
.niincd 40 comparative tosts OF va
rosie. or yields Of definite areas un-
.r he influences OF different methods Of
~-4ianre and different manuresH They in
cllde. Us well, u careful study OF the quality
nd Vigur Of the seed: the growth OF the
.att. tho result of checking growth IN one
direction In order to stimulate at another;
the effects Of self and cross fertilization; y the
tho best time and condition for performing
tbs various processes OF planting, mnnuring,
cultivating, harvesting and marketing; the
treatment Of insect enemies and diseases; II
study Of climatic conditions, etc. ALI these
matters, so far as thoy can be, are wei. tabu-
lated, and accompanied by literal text In OK
PLANTATION thereof.
The station takes Into consideration also
potatoes and garden vegetables, grasses and
forage plants, and fruits and howers. It's
work upon the dairy and upon forestry Is
also given, so hat nothing which concerns
the farmer has been left undone. Fifty
analyses of different kinds havo been male,
and over 400 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 lave been given
in every case. In fact, the station is a nat
urnl bureau fofainquiry, and wherever #
exists It expects to DO serviceable through
privnte correspondence TO the great constiiu-
ency which 1t representa-. Its monthly bulle-
tins and yearly reports are accessible To all.
and agricultural papers, and the pres gen
orally, circulate its conclusions on all subjects
to which IL Is devoted.
Other things which It does arc TO invesu-
gate and suggest remedies for rust, smut,
mildew: to show the effect OF different ra-
tons used To fatten stock, and the effect OF
the same upon the various dairy products;
aud the susceptibility OF different breeds Ia
different influences. All the processes OF set
ting milk, separating cream, making butter,
and the diseases OF horses IL cows, come
within is province. Nor is drying and pre-
serving fruit forgotten. The farmer Is also
lhd a very necessary thing In this age Of
.apul aud RECKLESS forest destruction-how
uit t,.st trees can be easily and cheaply
..Vu from the seed. The best time TO cut
a. &C., and the way to preserve it Is like
s.own. This service alone will be, In
8 o. untold benefit, not only to one state,
he whole country.
lamentable that the great body OF
N,f., as yet, themselves know so little
tt.-ii tie Experiment station; but they will
some 10 know, in time. when its means OF do
M siol will be immensely increased.