Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-09-26
PROGRESS az TESTS.
Tho True Method Is to Try Experimsne0
on q Small Scale.


The True Method Is to Try Experiments
| on q Small Scale.
There is no business in which un.
Known elements SO largely enter Al
farming. Some of these relate to the
influence of climate which is precisely
alike in no two seasons; some from
The chemistry Of the soil as affected
oy previous crops in the rotation; YET
other unknown quantities are simply
unknown because there is no precise
1ata from which to gather the definite
facts necessary to the complete under.
standing of the case.
How few farmers will know the net
profit per acre on their corn or pota.
to crops this year. They keep no rec
ord OF the time spent in cultivation
and in harvesting, and many can only
guess in very unsatisfactory way OF
the total amount of these and other
crops. True business methods would
suggest at least an occasional record
of all items of expense, and their de-
duction of value from the crop pro-
duced. so that there may be definite
knowledge concerning the crop that
pays the best, and thus come to ar
understanding of the relative value Of
all the crops.
There is also room for experimental
tests that may be of great value for
many years and cost very little. Some
farmers have, by series of experi-
ments, found that it pays better on
their soil to apply chemical fertilizers
to the potato crop instead of farm ma
nure. while the latter pays much bet
ter on the corn crop. Some, by APP
plying various amounts, have discov-
cred that the net gain from the potato
crop is greater when commercial fer
tilizers are applied at the rate of 1900
pounds per acre than when less or
more are applied. A few measured
rows, with accurate boundaries and
records, are sufficient to solve ques-
lions of much value, and that can
never be solved without test expert
ment.
So, too, in regard to new varieties
and so-called improved methods.
There is much to be learned by ex-
pending little money and time each
year in securing knowledge by ex-
periments. The novice who reads the
marvellous catalogues will conclude it
. fine thing if the whole farm could
be used in growing the remarkable
novelties advertised. They are so
immense, so productive (when planted
with printers ink and so superior
in quality, that it seems great folly
to hold on to old varieties even for a
single season. But when the old is
exchanged for the new. and the
crop is gathered and the humbug
exposed, or, possibly, this fact dis
covered, that varieties successful in
some soils and climates are failures
in others. then the reaction comes.
He says ''all men are liars who sell
seeds; he drops back into the old rut
and does las father used to do"
''only that and nothing more"
The true method is to try costly ex-
periments first on a small scale, so
that the loss may be small one if it
does not succeed. And it should be
remembered that about
of the new varieties and
the new methods are inferior to the
old. yet the valuable knowledge of the
tenth is worth the small
losses involved in these tests. So
that gaining a little knowledge each
year, there is constant progress, an
increase of profit, an intel
lectual satisfaction that is very crafty
ing to q man OF brains 1t is also
very pleasing to be able to contribute
to the general fund of farm knowledge !
The new facts that come to US in orig
NAL Investigations. The highest au-
.hority declares: 1T is more blessed !
20 give than to receive. IN. Y. OBJ
server.