Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-07-16
AeRroUIrurrsrs, CONVENTION.



miss CIcveIand's Interest.
Commissioner Colman, in his opening
address of welcome TO the convention OF
representatives of agricultural colleges
and experiment stations in Washington
last week, briefly sketched the discussions
in Congress which preceded the magnifi-
cent grants of land for the endowment of
agricultural colleges in the several states
OF the Union, and said il would be con-
ceded that the general public professed
degree of disappointment in the outcome OF
these institutions. The predominant idea
in Congress was thnt of interesting young
men in farming operations and in the fun
damental principles of plant culture by
showing how they might realize profits in
raising crops without diminishing the fer
tility of the soil Facts were submitted
to Congress showing that the average OF
yields was gradually diminishing in guam
tity, and the soil was being rapidly ex-
hausted of plant food. 10 arrest this
somewhat alarming tendency towards the
spoliation of arabic lands it was deemed
advisable to encourage institutions where
the results of scientific investigations in
vegetable physiology would be exem-
plified, and their practical applica-
ton in fields and gardens clearly
illustrated. The results had not been
commensurate with public expectations.
Complaint was made that comparatively
few graduates became farmers, and the
truth of this must, to some extent, be ad-
mitted. Il was not surprising, especially
in cases where the maintenance OF the
farm was noted as tax upon the funds OF
the college, that graduates should avoid
calling thus demonstrated to be unprofit-
able.
After alluding in detail to some of the
branches which should be fundamentally
taught in all agricultural colleges, he re-
ferred at length to some of the operations
and plans which might be carried out on
| college farms by the college faculties,a and
which would be more particularly under
the auspices of the department of agri-
| culture and for its special use and advan-
tage, operations and plans, involving
problems, which could only be solved by
investigations carried on simultaneously
in different localities.
The peculiarities consequent upon
changing seed from one soil and climate
to others were strongly suggestive that
good would result from well conducted
series of experiments made over widely
diversified climates and conditions. The
wider the system of interchange of seeds
and the greater the number of stimuli
taneous tests, the sooner could be tabu-
lated results out of which to deduce
principles for future guidance and action.
The principles governing the rotation
of crops, the hybridisation of plants, and
the study of the disease of plants were
touched upon as promising avenues to
conspicuous usefulness by agricultural
colleges if entered upon conformity AMI
intelligently, followed to their ends
Upon the general subject, and in conclu
} sion, the commissioner said there wal
} nothing which would so attract and riva
} the attention of the agricultural public
to the colleges Ms experimental
: work. Farmers would hope and ex
, peot to be directly benefited. On tn
, college farms should be tested ever,
) variety of fruit, cereals, grapes, timber
trees and even domestic animals, AM
: those found in all respects adapted to tn
9 locality should be disseminated by tn
: college. Thus one college farm would b
irving experiments for hundreds of thou
sands of farmers who could enjoy tn
benefits and not suffer the losses i
a money, labor and time of making th
\ tests for himself. He profered the Sci
Z vices of the department in obtaining froi
& abroad seeds and plants of any produt
a we are now importing whenever th
faculty of any college wished to test til
cultivation of the plant in this countr.
s He could see the necessity for grei
y national experimental farm also, whic
70 he would have established near the cap
5 tai, and if he might go farther he woul
u establish upon it IL permanent national
worlds exposition, where the products
q this and other nations might be exhibite
side by side. He believed Mt no distai
Ia day all this would be realized for ngricu
n ture the nursing mother of all industri
is was entitled to such recognition.
1t Commissioner Colman announced TIN
10 he had received n letter from Miss Clev
rs land, of the Executive Mansion, which
o. did not think was intended ms priva
N communication. He said Miss ClevelaI
II had manifested laudable interest in OF
of the industries in which the count
x was interested therefore, he would rel
es the letter. The letter was then read,
I'd follows:
n, EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, ID. @.
ls venture 10 ask II the subject of silk cultil
n In the United States is one that will rScei
i'll attention from the aYrlcultufal cohVehtlo
nd find myself feeling II deep interest In u
industry, not only because it seems rig
and hitting that we should produce our oy
He silk in successful competition with the
,s- World but because this industry when
N, established as it may be by encourugeme
1L of the government will afford one mo
N avenue Of seif-support to women.
E sure yo1 desire with mo to see such avenu
" Increased with worthy and Legitimate wa.
mn am hoping to have the pleasure
ly visiting yoilr Bureau before long.
ROSE EI.IzABETH CLEVELAND
nv July 8, 1885.
ITS This letter was received with npplau
M and the following resolution unanimous
on adopted:
lct Res0lUed, That this convention has
ID. tened with pleasure to the sentiments
i n pressed by Miss Rose Elizabeth Clevelal
nm In her letter addressed to Commission
Colman on the subject OF silk culture in
United States: that we arc in sympn
ear with those sentiments, and that Miss Cle
'ws land is most cordially invited to honor.
on body with her presence, and take part III
ing deliberations.
81 A resolution was adopted provid
,on for the appointment of committee
md urge upon the attention of Congress 81
ing legislation as might be favored by
md convention, and TO take steps to sec
favorable action thereon.