National Republican., 1885-05-16
AN EXPERIMENTAL FARM.
Views OF a Farmer OF Fairfax County
Upon the DUTY OF the Agricultural
Deuorttneut

upon the DUTY OF the Agricultural
Department..
Editor NArIoNAL REPUBLICAN,; Pro.
gressive farmers are pleased to note any
tendency to make the agricultural do.
partmout a local agency of practical in
formation, without desiring to limit Its
national scope or character. Our prox-
unity, hero in Fairfax, to the department
of agriculture seems to Justify the hope
that u will have beginning at home,and
that we will be the first to enjoy its prac-
tical benefits in correct knowledge Of
soils and products.
That 1t has not fulfilled this oxpeota-
tion may not be the fault of its executive,
but rather the Want Of grounds suitable
to extend its operations, In producing
soods and plants grown In our native soil,
which duty Is clearly expressed in the act
| organizing the department.
Heretofore Congress has failed to pro-
vide such grounds, although repeatedly
asked to do so. Tho government now
has ample grounds In the Arlington es-
tate admirably adapted TO an experi-
mental station, containing over 800 acres,
between the main road to tho national
cemetery and tho river. which are now
useless TO the government. They only
require an assignment to the department
and q working capital 20 bring them into
produotivenoss. Itcannot bo denied that
the prevailing sentiment among common
aRriculturalist5 has not bocn favorable to
the department. Tho opinion has been
that IL was foreign missionary institu-
ton, or mutual admiration society be-
tween itself and members Of Congress,
who must appropriate its benefits for
| thatr nn1itfoa1 rnnaNfNnanta Tha
seeds and plants distributed in this vi
cinity to practical oultivators have not
given general satisfaction. On the con.
trary. they have been regarded as patent
office seeds" Of little or no value simply
because they have not been tested at
homo, but purchased in the markets OF
the world by agents, whose knowledge of
agriculture is a refined idea Of the beau
tiful.
Fairfax county, once the donor of q
part Of the District of Columbia, is fast
coming into prominence as one of the
boat counties In Virginia, and has many
prosperous and intelligent farmers who
desire some Of the benefits to be derived
from the department But they have ne
patience to practice on theoretical ideas
nor to be bound by tho methods of the
fathers. They would gladly welcome
practical and experimental station where
they, their sons, and their daughter
could see science reduced to practice.
Our government Is far behind European
governments In this respect. Ever
Sweden, Norway, and Denmark-not Il
mention Great Britain. France, and Ger
, many-have their experimental station
for the purpose Of testing and acclimatiz
, ing seed and plants for the common use
Shall we, with our boundless variety O
soil and climate, our intelligent au,
r active people. be compelled to plod oye
the path of individual experiment o
follow the ruts Of unproductiveness?
We hope the day is not far distan
} when our agricultural department will b
. able to meet this pressing want. w
, have faith that our new commissioner
Col. Colman, will attend to these duties
even if ho has to forego some of th
. pleasures OF popular 'junketing." Thi
: confidence is supported by the recent ca
he has made for Convention of agr
culture" We trust our people vii
! notice this call and attend their sessions
and not forget hospitality to the strange
0 when with US. FARMER.
a FAIRFAX COUNTY VA, May IL.