St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-26

it was issued. The obliging geolOgist
and sweet poet complied with his re-
quest and sent him the first copy that
was bound. He did not, however, re-
ceive an answer to the letter he sent
with the book. One day the author met
the farmer On the street in New Haven
and hoped that he would hear from him
something in praise of his report. But
the old farmer never mentioned 1t.
When, however, he asked him ii ne had
received the book, and, If so, what lie
thought of it, the man of the pillow
heaved a sigh and said: MY hoy, who
is in Yale college. said he heard one of
the professors remark that it was
monument to American science, which
goes to show that it is all right In It's
way. But, MIR. Percival, will be frank
with you and say. that when L adVe-
Gated bill to take farmers money and
gave it 10 you for writing BOOK,
didn't think it would be
PRINTED IN LATIN.
Reports of experiments in agriculture
and stock-feedlng should be in plain
language and free from scientific terms
or they will be of very little value to
the average farmer. They have no in
terest in erecting monuments to science.
They care for facts but care very little
for theories. They want to read what
will help them. So far as they have
spoken on the subject they have
expressed about the same opinions
of the bulletins issued at expert
ment stations that the old Con-
necticut farmer did of Mr.. Percival's
report on the geology OF Con-
necticut. With rare exceptions the per-
sons in care Of experiment stations give
their attention to the same things With
out regard to the persons they are pre-
sumed to serve. LII states where not a
pound of commercial fertilizers is sold
reports are made about their compost
ton and purity. In states where heid
crops are often ruined by ground SOUR
rels and gOpherS no experiments are
made with view of discriminating
them. There is fashion in
FARM EXPERIMENTS
as there is in bOnnetS. The men who
are in charge of many of the experiment
stations are not OF class that inspires
much confidence. In most states the
station is located at the agricultural col
lege and becomes a mere adjunct to it.
The president is director and the pro
fessors have charge of the various de-
partments. The $4,000 received from
the national treasury is divided among
them. 1t serves to make an addition to
their former salaries. Few of them have
any practical knowledge of agriculture,
breeding, or stock raising. They have
no taste for making experiments,
no special qualifications. and no pre-
vious training. They endeavOr to do
some of the things which others, who
were better fitted for the work, have
done. They attempt nothing new. 1t
is likely that one man like Sir John Ben
net Lawes, who engaged in agricultural
experiments as labor of love. and has
continued his work all his life, has ac-
complished more in a year than they
will during their term of office. Very
few have the gifts. requirements
and patience to conduct expert
ments in agriculture that will be
of any value in the world, and these
few are not likely to be put in charge OF
the stations created by congress. Com
potency in many states is no more con-
sidered in filling places in educational
institutions than in other institutions.
1t is as easy to form ring for manag-
ing an agricultural college or an eXper-
iment station as one for controlling any
public affair, and it is quite as difficult
to break it up. The agricultural exper-
iment station is an experiment, and up
to the present time has not been sue
ceSSful.