The Charlotte Democrat., 1888-02-03
Remarks of q. B. Battle,
Estate Chemist

In the Farmers ASSO citation on the Report
of the Committee on the State Depart-
neenat of Horticulture.
81 conceive the object for which expert.
mental work is desired, and the benefits
that will be expected to accrue from it in
the future to the masses of the people
throughout the State is that material aid
will be given in the advancement of agri-
culture as profession. And the work to
be carried on should have for it's object
whatever would best advance the agricul-
tural class. The needs o: various States
are widely different, and no similar work
can be conducted at once adapted to the
requirements of all the States. The work
must be varied to suit the needs of those
living in the various sections. The re-
quirements of New Workers are not the re-
quirements of North Carolinians, nor or
the needs of the people of North Carolina
| the same as those of the people of Maine.
AS a rule, especially in the cotton States,
| these needs in my opinion can best be fit
| ted by an influence education in its char
acter-by teaching the people the knowl-
| edge they most lack in the proper con-
duct of their farming operations. This
can be done by disseminating information
obtained best by work in this State (for
here it will have the best efect) or
through information from any other source
if this cannot be done. This work should
include that which would prove the most
practical, and give the most immediate re-
lief as far as possible to the farming class.
The opinion as given in the last sentence
is shared by a number of our representa-
tive farmers in various portions of the
| g., stl~ r I1l
the subject; and l have every reason to
believe that it is held by all OF our people.
| 1t is not my idea for the purely scien-
tific work which would not bring quick
returns to be excluded, but should at pres.
ent, until the masses are ready to digest
them, be subordinate to that more practi-
cal in character.
With this preface the following plan for
experimental work, more especially adapt
ed to this State, will better be under
stood.
The work, in my opinion, that would be
best to undertake, should be as | have
said, entirely practical in it's character,
and such as would give the most immedi-
ate and beneficial results for the use of
our farmers and should include
l. The effect of fertilizers on various
soils and crops. carried en- in conjunction
with the experiment station by individual
farmers throughout the State. With such
a diversity of soil and climate as this State
possesses, this is necessity to obtain re-
suits of value.
| o. The best system for rotation of crops,
and the effect of the time of planting OF
EACH
g. The best treatment of worn out lands
to render them productive.
| 4. A study of the cultivation of the sta
pie crops looking to the improvement In
the present system.
5. The utilization of waste farm pro-
ducts in the manufacture of fertilizers and
composts; and the examination of natural
products for the same object.
6. Investigation as to the growth oi
other crops than those now planted, to
ascertain if more valuable crops might be
substituted in part or in whole for those
we now have Such investigation might
include among others the study of sor
ghum as to the best practical plan fol-
planting, gathering expressing and util
izing the juice; the growth of root crops
} the growth of plants yielding fibre, such
as ramis, jute and the best plan for pre-
serving the fibre; a study of the various
grasses of value; to ascertain how far the
J raising of hay can supercede the planting
OF cotton and other staple crops SO ex
hausting to the SOIL
Z. Experiments relative to the feedine
value of the various forage crops grown
} in this locality, also of the grasses now
grown or proposed to be grown in thi
State, and to instruct our farmers in tht
value of the standard hays and grasses, o
the nutritive value of each; and to deter
, mine from the analysis of the plants
: grown in this latitude the proper ration
for work, brood and fattening cattle
using the recognized feeding standards t.
3 that end.
: 8. The construction of the silo and tn,
preservation of green forage crops as en-
silage, and the comparative merits of tn
latter with forage in the dry state.
9. Digestion experiments with mill
COWS, and the amount of milk obtained
with chemical analysis of same. Also d
gestion experiments with other stock.
10. A study of the temperature of tn
soil to ascertain how far it effects th
y growth of the crop.
IL. Meteorological observations in cor
. junction with the various work carried OF
In other lines OF investigation.
IL. Investigation of the chemical col
sttuents of the standard crops in th
various stages of their growth-of cottor
corn and tobacco; and the growth of th
roots of these crops as determined by roc
d washing.
'. A few of these have been carried @
:, during the past two years, and are now
" progress. The list might be largely il
creased, for the subject is an immense on
and fruitful, with possibilities for good
every section throughout the State.
have merely given these experimen
II as types of the work which, in my opinio
- should be undertaken.
/ W When you boil cabbage, tie b
IT. of dry bread in bag and put it in the Ike
flo Fronch cocka sav that all the N