New-York tribune., 1885-07-09
SCIENTIFIC AGRICULT WRISTS MEET
COMMISSIONER coLMAN's CoNvENTIoN-rHE WORE
IN HAND


IN HAND.
fBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.1
WASHINGTON, July S.-The call for q con ven-
ton Of representatives of the various agricultural
colleges and experiment stations In the different States
has brought together notable gathering The avowed
purpose OF tho meeting to consider some means OF
unyng the work OF these separate institutions BY es-
tabshng more vital connection between them and the
Department at Washington Perhaps the controlling
motive of Commissioner Colman was to secure an In
dorsement Of the Cullen BILL which gives $4,000 TO the
agricultural college In each State annually, 70 Do used
for experimental purposes.
There Is much to be said In Of National aid to the
different stations. Indeed, the arguments were 30 con-
vncing that the bill reported favorably by unan-
imous vote of the Committee Agriculture, aud the
votes necessary pass 1t ready II 1t could have
been brought before Congress- In the pressure OF tho
closing days, however 1t not reached 1t Will prob
ably pass without serious opposition next winter but II
Mr. Colman can lift himself a-stradde OF 1t and into
prominence goes through his personal vanity
will be gratiied. resolution In favor OF the bill was
adopted to-day without dissent.
Mr. Coman sopening speech TO day would have passed
for credtable effort II delivered twenty years ago by
rural orator before county agricultural society, but
when addressed this select body Of most eminent
for attainmens agricultural SCIENCE it was distress
ing exhibition OF the speakers Ignorance and his low
estimate OF the critical character OF his audience The
position he took outset to the true functions
OF agricultural colleges and college farms cannot be de-
Tended and the remainder OF his effort was desert OF
coumonI lace without single fruitful suggestion or
original thought with the exception perhaps OF his VS.
ion OF a spacious Government farm Washington
where future commissioners would dsport themselves
with permanent show as an annex ,,,.u
Tie seed distribution abuse brought up incidentally
this afternoon Mr.. Colinan thought 1t was All wrong
but he had made up his mind that Congress wtned 70
send and potatoes to their relatives ana consu
and he did not propose to be the Dull to putt THIS
locomotive a.,
Professor Knapp OF iowa. said that nasmnch as he did
not depend on Congressional favor he was willing to
characterize the practice as an unmtgated entraxe,
Professor Dabney. North offered resolution
that the distribution OF common farm aud garden seeds
10 unframed persons who could not use them 10 adVah
tare Tor purposes Of experiment Illegal useless and
science argued that 4 was impoc to assaii Congress
men or their Perques %nen @ ,ey Ie, dnwn "u
In the OF the discussion Professor DwneIe OF
California; msde an Interesting statement Oh te nenenos
Odessa wheat through the department tie auied' now
ever with the seeds and plants sent to tnat coast
many destructive and fungi had been Introduced
that were doing ncalculabe damage He suggested tat
seeds should he carefully inspected and freed from seeds
Mr. Coman had intended, he said To take the conyen-
tion on picnic to Mount Vernon. but on application TO
that all the vessels his disposal which we're suitable for
peaceful an expedition We're now III New, YORK.
The meeting will continue tomorrow, ana the MOUNT
Vernon excursion seems TO Indefinitely postponed
Whatever the nna deverances oSthe oody may pe.tney
All % Of Ds %Ip prassa % a. Ws as
attachments Among those present are President FER
nad. of Maine; Professor Bsntrd, New-IamI shire;
Dr. Goessnan. Mas. Major Alyord. Houghton Farm;
Director slurteyant and Mr Armstrong OF tue peri.
professors Iebow and Dabney. Nortn Carona General
Lee and Dr. Phares. Hiss. Professor DInwiddle Tex
torn. Missouri; President Fairchd, Kan. Professor
Wing Neb. Professor Knapp Iowa; Professor ArmsDy,
via President Tilleis MSh Professor WatSnS paerson'
KY. Professor Lazenhy. Ohloi Professor "oodnuil'
Oak. Professor Dwnele, Cal.