St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-09
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.
Convention OF Representative Hen
--COlman,s Views.

and experimental stations which began
here to-day was called to order at 1880
O'Clock by Hon. w. +. Switzler. The as
semblage takes place in the seed room of
the department of agriculture, a hall of
considerable size in the new building on
the agricultural grounds. There were
present at the opening between fifty and
sixty delegates, representing all the lead
ing agricultural colleges and experimental
stations of the United States.
Commissioner COlman was chosen TO be
temporary chairman and Prof. George
Fairchild temporary secretary. A commit
tee on credentials was named. Commits
sioner Colman, in his opening address of
welcome, briefly sketched the discussion in
congress which preceded the magnificent
GRANTS OF LANDS
for the endowment Of agricultural colleges
in the several states, and said it would be
conceded that the general public protested
degree OF disappointment in
the outcome of these Institutions.
Facts were submitted to congress showing
that the average of yield was gradually
diminishing in quantity and the soil was be-
ing rapidly exhausted of plant food. To
arrest this somewhat alarming tendency il
was deemed advisable to encourage institu-
cations in vegetable physiology would be
exemplifed, and their practical application
in fields and gardens clearly illustrated. The
results had not been commensurate with
public expectations. Complaint was made
that comparatively few of the students
BECAME FARMERS
and-the truth of this must to some extent
be admitted. 1t was not surprising, es-
no fall IL,
The farm was noted as a tax upon the
friends of the college, that graduates should
avert calling thus demonstrated as I'M
profitable After abiding in detail to some
of the branches which should be funda-
mentally taught in agricultural colleges he
referred at length to some of the operations
and plans which might be carried out on
college farms, by the college faculties and
which would be more particularly
under the auspices of the depart
ment of agriculture, and for its
special use and advantage, operations and
plans involving problems which could only
be solved by investigations carried on sim
ultaneOusly in different localities. The pc
culiaritieS consequent upon changing seed
from one soil and climate TO others were
strongly suggestive that good would result
from well-eonducted series of expert
ments, made over widely-diversified eli
mates and conditions. The wider the sys-
TEN OF interchange of seeds and the greater
the number of simultaneous tests, the
sooner could be tabulated results out of
which to deduce principles for
FUTURE GUIDANCE
and action aS an example of special work
for suitable localities. He would mention
Investigations relating to the cotton plant.
The department could collect the seed from
many varieties and assign them to colleges
in cotton states with instructions which
would secure similarity of experiment
throughout their growth. Semi-weekly in
spectiOnS might be made when every detail
of progress connected with rainfall, tenn
perature, time of first Towering, continual
ton of the blooming period, quantity and
quality of the lint should be carefully
noted. These processes should be eontin-
ued for a series of years, but if COM
pleted could not fail in being of
great benefit to all engaged i'm the
culture of the crop. Determinations could
be reached as to the adaptability of certain
kinds to certain climates. Better varieties
than those now cultivated would be indiea-
ted for many localities and profits would be
enhanced. The first fact to be evolved by
such experiments would be eliciting the
knowledge necessary 10 the intelligent
crossing of varieties for the purpose of COM
bining in one the eXcellencies of many. The
principles governing the rotation of crops,
the hybudiZatiOn of plants and the study of
the diseases of plants touched upon as COM
ingB venues OF conspicuous usefulness by
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES,
il entered upon intelligently and followed
10 their ends. Upon the general subject
and in conclusion the commissioner said
there was nothing which would SO attract
and rivet the attention of the public to col
legeS as experimental work Farmers
would hope and expect to be directly
benefited. On the college farms should
be tested every variety of finest ce-
reals, grapes, timber, trees and
even domestic animals. and those
found in all respects adapted to the locality
should be disseminated by the college.
Thus one college farm would be trying ex-
perimentS for hundreds of thousands of
farmers who could enjoy the benefits and
not suffer the losses in money. labor and
time of making the tests for themselves.
He preferred the services of the depart
ment in obtaining from abroad seeds
and plants of any product when
ever the faculty of any college
NlShCu W lcSl Oh the pant
in this country. He could see the necessity
for great national experimental farm also,
which he would have established near the
capital, and if he might go farther he would
establish upon it a permanent national or
worlds exposition, where the products of
this and other nations might be exhibited
side by side. He believed that at no dis
tant day all this would be realized for agri-
culture. The nursing method of
all industries was entitled to
such recognition. At the conclusion
of the commissioners opening address the
temporary officers were made permanent
Commissioner COlman this afternoon an
nOmced that he had received letter from
Miss Cleveland of the executive mansion.
which he did not think was intended as a
private communication. He said Miss
Cleveland had manifested laudable in
terest in one of the industries in which the
country was interested.
LETTER FROM MISS CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, d. c.,
July l, 1851 venture to ask if the subject
OF silk culture in the United States is one
which will receive attention from the agri-
cultural convention. / ind myself feeling a
deep interest in this industry, not only be-
cause it seems right and fitting that we should
produce our own silk in successful
competition with the old world but
because this industry when so established as
il may be by encouragement OF the govern
ment viii afford one more avenue OF self
support TO women. l am sure you desire
with me to see such avenues increased in
worthy and legitimate ways ! am hoping
TO have the pleasure of visiting your bu-
reau before long. Very truly yous,
ROSE ELIZABETH CLEVELAND.
The letter was received with applause
and the following resolution unanimously
adopted: Resolved that the convention has
listened with pleasure to the sentiments ex-
pressed by Miss Cleveland in her letter ad-
dressed TO Commissioner Colman on the