Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-24
EXPERIMENTAL.
ESTABLISHING AGRICULTURAL.
EXPERIMENT STATIONS.
Report and Suggestions of Professor
Hitgard About Stations in OPP
Grafton and 10 be Located.


outlying agricultural experiment stations
to be established in this State under pro-
visions of the recent Act of Congress The
report is published as bulletin IS, from
the State University, and is as follows:
respectfully submit the following con-
siderations and statements concerning the
organization of the agricultural expert
ment station work under the provisions of
the Hatch bill, which has now been made
effective by the appropriation that has
lately raised Congress:
The experiment station work that for
ten years past has been carried on, so far
as the funds Of the University and the
State appropriations made from time to
time, have permitted, is entirely of the
character contemplated by the Hatch ex-
pertinent bill, and the interest it has Gre
ated in this State has not only found ex-
preston in the increased appropriations
consecutively made for It's support by the
Legislature, but also by the desire mani
Tested for its expansion so as to provide
adequately for the varied needs of
the widely different climatic regions
of California. 1t being manifestly
impossible to represent, by the work Of
any single station, the condition of State
co-extensiTe with the section of the At
lantic coast reaching from Cape Cod to the
Savannah river, the establishment of out
lying culture experiment stations has long
been urged and to some extent the de-
mand has been supplied by the annual
distribution of seeds and living plants
throughout the State, to persons applying
for them and willing to make trials and
report thereon to the Agricultural De
partment The last annual report records
the outcome of large number of expert
ments thus initiated; vet it cannot be
denied that, considering the large number
of persons to whom distributions have
been made, the responses have been rela-
lively few and too often of very I'M
satisfactory character, owing to the I'M
ayoidable want of necessary attention on
the part of the distributee. AT all events,
these results have served to emphasize the
need of regional culture stations under
competent supervision, and the desire of
the agricultural public in that direction
has repeatedly found utterance in resolu-
tions of the State Grange, State conven-
lions and other public meetings. Those
past.at the last meetings of these bodies
are especially emphatic, and the support
thus given has doubtless aided greatly in
the passage of the appropriation Act
through Congress.
Our general policy in regard to this sub
ject being thus understood, the principles
that should guide in the establishment of
such culture experiment stations require a
brief discussion.
Ia determining the proper location of
the outlying stations, their distinctive OBJ
iects, and relation to the central station at
Berkeley should be kept clearly in view.
The latter must of necessity cover the
whole ground of investigation in agricult-
ural science and practive, as recited in the
Act of Congress and as heretofore carried
out so far as the means at command per-
mitted. The outlying stations, on the con-
trary, are designed to be essentially cult
ure stations" only, in which the adapta-
tions of culture plants to the local climates
and soils are to be tested Systematically, in
order to relieve the practical farmer from
the necessity of making such trials at his
individual and often very heavy expense
in unproductive investments, and the re-
suits of which after all are not convincing
to others and do not become part of public
experience.
With this object in view, it is evident
that i'll the selection of locations for such
stations the following points should be pri-
marily regarded:
l. Each station should be representative
of as large an area of agricultural land as
possible, with respect to climatic conditions
first of all, and secondly with respect to
soil conditions.
2. Agricultural regions of which the
adaptations and peculiarities are still I'M
certain should receive attention first, since
1t is here that the greatest volume of work
remains to be done; while in regions that
have been settled up long ago the trials of
individual culture plants that may come
into question may be intrusted to intelli-
gent individuals.
This implies, conversely, that when, after
time. which may vary from ten otwenty
or more years, a culture station shall have
fulfilled its main objects, it may be dis
pensed with, or transferred to another To-
cality standing in need of such work. Yet
1t may also turn out to be desirable to
maintain some outlying station or stations
permanently, and invest them with addi-
tionG functions in the prosecution of agri-
cultural experimentation. Under this
point of view it would seem to be desirable
that the lands occupied should be held in
trust, or on lease, rather than IN fee simple.
by the University
1t is my impression that such tenure of
land fer the purpose of culture station
can, In most, if not all. cases be obtained
by consent or donation from the owner.
with emily nominal expense to the institu
ton.
As regards the necessary buildings. the
Act provides that a sum of money not ex-
ceeding 5000 may be expended for build
ings and repairs the first (this} year. but
thereafter only $3.50 per year shall be so
applicable. This provision was evidently
intended to prevent the improper use of
the fund for extensive buildings, allowing
only what is considered abolutely essential
such as dwellings for employees, barn,
tool and propagating house-to be de-
frayed out of the appropriation. This
works we'll enough where, as in the smaller
Eastern States, one single station answers
ali purposes. But where, as in California.
at least Eve stations besides the central
one at Berkeley will be required to rep
resent even remotely the several agricult-
ural regions, this provision leaves us with
out the means of providing for their build
ings.
From the offers and suggestions already
received, believe that this difficulty can
be overcome by inviting subscriptions to
defray the cost of needed buildings. in
the localities or regions that will be kene-
flied by their establishment. 1t would
manifestly be invidions to allot the whole
$4,000 permitted by law to any one
favored locality, unless it be the central
station at Berkeley. The latter, as YOU
are aware, stands in the most urgent need
of buildings that shall properly subserve
the uses of the experiment station, which
at present has neither Office, nor collection
reoEa, nor adequate laboratory accommoda-
tons. In conformity with this view.
have already submitted to you suggestions
and plans by which, experimenting the
$1,000 with an appropriate sam from the
University fund, satisfactory building for
the use OF the station may be constructed.
mostly Epon foundations already existing.
This is really the first need for the success
iul management of the already conaplex
work, which will become additionally
heavy and complicated when the OUTLYING
stations shall have been established.
As regards the number and general co..
location Of these culture stations, have