Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-24
Some Farm experiments.

It Is much more difficult TO arrive at
definite and satisfactory conclusions from
experiments made on a farm that from
these performed in a Well-arranged lab
OrtOry. In the latter place the expert
menter can carry on his work without
regard Of the weather. He is protected
by walls and a roof, and he can regul late
! the temperature of the room as he
chooses. On the farm, however, the per
son conducting experiments Is at the
mercy Of the elements The tempera-
| tuTe of the air and the soil is liable to
! change at any moment. The soil may
| be too wet or too dry to insure the quick
| termination Of seeds, the vigorous
/ growth Of plants, or the proper npening
OF grains and fruits. The growth Of all
/ plants is liable to be affected by disease
and insects, as well as unfavorabls con
diiOns Of the atmosphere. The number
Of contingencies increases when we be-
| gin to experiment. with animals and
fowls instead Of plants, as they are more
/ susceptible to various influences. They
are liable to most OF the diseases that
[ afiict mankind. They are dependent
on plants for their food, and their condi-
ton, health, and growth viii largely de-
pend on the state Of the plants on which
they feed
What are usually classed as agricul-
! tural experiments amount to very little
In determining general facts. They
simply give the results Of certain trials
made under peculiar circumstances. If
the results are good, We are generally
{ safe in arriving at the conclusion that
/ all the conditions were favorable to sue
cess. We are not safe, however, in
adopting the plan pursued by the ex-
| perimenter In all parts Of the country
on a different soil than that worked by
! him, or In a climate where the climate is
/ essentially different. In short, We have
no great assurance that We shall have
! the same success that he had if the soil
Is similar and the climate near the same.
A mode Of planting and a system Of Gull
/ tivatiOn that produces excellent results
| one season may fail the next year on &C
count Of the marked difference In the
/ temperature or amount OF rainfall. The
l level culture Of corn and potatoes may
/ give excellent results IN a very dry sea
son, but repeated during a wet year, It
may result in complete failure. Farm
ers who ''rush into print" they have
raised a fine crop OF anything often do
much injury, as many think that they can
certainly secure like results by following
/ the same course during any -ssls0a and
on any sort Of land.
Prof. E. NJ. Shelf of the Kansas Ag-
riCultural college 'ade during the
past few yearL 4-=iPesting and val
liable eLpeE 6 the farm Of the
college at Manhattan, theresults
Of ave been published In an OH
Tsport. One Of them was made with
view OF determining the relative value
/ Of common c0rn-meal and Of Command
cob meal for making feed Ten steers
/ - years past" were selected for the
/ experiment They were divided into two
/ lots, allowed the same fodder ratiOnz.
[ kept ia the same barn, Watered from the
same trough, tended by the same man,
/ and were fed regularly for a period Of
/ $50 days. The first lot were fed, besides
I their fodder ratiOns, -and-cob meal
/ exclusively, and the second lot common
cOEn-meal. Each animal was weighed
/ every ten days, and an accurate account
/ kept Of the food consumed and the gain
In weight during the time the experiment
I lasted The average gain Of the first
/ lot was IS.2 per cent. per hundred
I weight, while the average gain Of the
/ second lot was 1873. The actual and av-
] erage gam Of a steer IN the first lot was
4 200 pounds and In the second lot 217
+ pounds. The average daily gain Of g
steerln the first lot was IA pounds
{ aud Of one In the second lot was L36
] pounds.