The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-15
The Agricultural Experiment sta
ton Bill.
LETTER FRo1 nov. E. BARksDAIE.


WASHINGTON. d. O., Dec. Z, 1880.
Mes-rs. F. A. Howell, J. c. Hamilton and E 7.
Stanley;
Dear .Sirs: | have the honor TO &C
knowledge receipt of your letter INFORM
ing me that you have been appointed
committee by Bowling Green Grange
No. 500 to solicit my opinion of the oiii
pending in the House of Representatives,
for the establishment of Agricultural
Experiment Stations 1 win answer
with the frankness which it is my Gus
tom to observe in the expression OF my
opinions upon every public question.
The bin was presented to the House
with the sanction of the Committee on
Agriculture, TO which all matters apper-
| tanning directly to the interests of Agrl-
culture. are referred; and Is designed to
promote that fundamental industry upon
which. more than all others combined,
the well-being and prosperity of man
kind depend. The bill does not initiate
a lew policy. 1t is supplemental to the
act of 1862 appropriating public land
scrip to the several States for the en-
dowment of colleges TO promote agrlcni-
ture and the mechanic arts. Mississippi
is reaping the benefit of the act In the
endowment of her Agricultural and
Mechanical College, the success of which
in the accomplishment OF its benehcent
| purposes, is phenomenal. The OIL, ii IL
| should become 4 law, will enlarge the
scope of the usefulness of these lnstitu-
tions, our own among the rest. lt pro-
vides Tor an appropriation of SIo,OU' a
wear for each state. As stated IN the
report of the Committee on Agriculture,
this is "a small sum to appropriate Tor
the special improvement OF au iufGsIrN
which requires the labor of 1,o0o,VOu
men and gives direct support to one
half of our population; which has IN
vested in its lands $40 QUO, 900 900, IN Its
Implements and machinery s4Ou, 900, 0OO,
in its live stock 81, 500, 000,0 600, aud IL
its products an annual value OF -, W.
600 000." The bill provides that there
snail be established, in connection with
the college or colleges In each State
established, or which may hereafter De
established, in accordance with the pro-
visions of an act approved July second,
eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled
IAN act donating public lands to the
several States and Territories which
NAV provide colleges for the benefit OF
agriculture and the mechanic arts,
. an experiment station" The object
of the measure Is described in sec
. ton as follows: That it shall be
, the object aud duty of said experiment
stations to conduct original researches
or verify experiments Oh the physiology
r of plants and animals; the diseases To
} which they are severally subject, with
the remedies for the same; the chemical
composition of useful plants at their
different stages of growth; the compara
, tive advantages of rotatlYe cropping as
pursued under varying series of crops
the capacity of new plants or trees fol
, acelimation within the isothermal limit;
. represented by the climate of the sever.
! stations and their vicinity; the analysis
of soils and water; the chemical cOmpo
: siIion of manures, natural or artificial
[ with experiments designed to test their
comparative effects on crops of different
r kinds; the adaptation and value OF
grasses and forage plants; the compost
ton and digesubility of the different
kinds of FOOD for domestic animals; tbs
scientific and economic questions in
volsed in the production of butter and
cheese; and such other researches Oh
o experiments bearing directly on the
j | agricultural industry of the United
! states as may in each case be deemed
/ advisable. having due regard to tn,
4 varying conditions and needs of the
respective States and Territories" 1t i,
e further provided that the stations shall
{ be under the control of the trustees OF
e other governing power of the institu
: lions to which they are attached.
Approaching the advantages of The
= act of 1862 by which our State is Sc
signally benefited; impressed with the
truism that without progressive anC
enlightened agricultural industry, ne
a other interest can be permanently pros
= porous, aud Witnessing that while in ou
land agriculture has been the burden
bearer of the government, and least o.
g all other industries, has been favored by
its legislation, | will attest my gooC
; opinion of the bill by casting my vot,
for it, if its friends should succeed, a,
, they will endeavor to do, in taking il
from the calendar for consideration
during the present session. [ am,
Yours Respectfully,
Il. BARKsDALE.