The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-03
EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

The late Congress, just previous to
its final adjournment. passed bill to
provide for the establishment OF agri-
cultural experiment stations in the sew
eral States and Territories. The object
was to acquire and ditfdse practical in
formation in reference to agriculture,
and to promote scientific investigation
and experiment respecting the prin-
cipleS and application of agricultural
science. The law makes it the duty to
conduct original researches or verify
experiments on the physiology OF
plants and animals. the advantages of
rotative cropping, analysis of soils and
water, composition of fertilizers, value
of grasses and forage plants, and such
other researches Or experiments bear
ing directly on the agricultural industry
of the United States IS may be deemed
advisable. 1t is required that periodi-
cal bulletins or reports Of progress shall
be sent to the newspapers in
the respective States and Territories
and to such farmers as may
request them. An appropriation
of fifteen thousand dollars a year q
10 each State and Territory is provided
for, the money to be drawn quarterly,
There is condition, however, and that
is, that the State or Territory must
provide for an agricultural college
school or farm. By an oversight the
item did not appear in the general sp-
preparation bill, and the money could
not, therefore be distributed. The pres
ent Congress passed bill to make the
money Immediately available, and a
dispatch from Washington informs us
that yesterday the President approved
the bill. The government will, there
fore, hereafter give to every State and
Territory $4,000 annually for agricul-
turaI experiment work, upon condition
that the State or Territory will do some
thing for itself. Several States have
long maintained agricultural colleges,
or agricultural departments of their
colleges; but Utah is without either.
Would it not be well for the Assembly
at the present session to make
PROVISION for an experimental farm
and thus get the benefit of this gener-
OILS gift on the part of the nation? I is
believed that the investment would be
wise one, even if there were no SIS, 600
to come from the government. While
the great majority of the people are
engaged in agricultural ursuits, &C M
paratively few of them knew anything
of the business before they came here.
They were chiefly mechanics, tradesmen
and day laborers, and turned to farming
because there was nothing else for them
TO do. If they have succeeded it has
been because they worked hard and the
soil was new and rich, and not because
of their knowledge of the Industry.
Also, if they have been moderately sue
cessful in their ignorance of the busi-
ness and of the nature, character and
capabilities of the soil, how great would
have been their achieve ent if they had
at all times known what to do! From
he first, in this Territory, agriculture
has been an experiment, not only as to
the science itself, but as to those engaged
in it. If the experiments can be under
taken at the public expense, and the
benefits be obtained by the agricuItur-
SITS without cost. it will prove of great
advantage to the Territory. The better