Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-09-26
PROGRESS BY TESTS.
1'"e method Is to Try Experiments
on Small Scale.


ON Small Scale.
ihere Is no business in which un-
known elements so largely enter as
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
Dy previous crops in the rotation; vet
other unknown quantities are simply
unknown because there is no precise
data 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-
70 crops this year. They keep no rec
ora oil the time spent in cultivation
ana 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-
dnced, SO that there may be definite
knowledge concerning the crop that
pays the best, and thus come to an
understanding OF the relative value of
al 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 expert
lnents, found that it pays better on
their soil to apply chemical fertilizers
10 the potato crop instead Of farm ma
nure, while the latter pays much bet
Ter on the com 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 1000
pounds per acre than when less or
more are applied. A few measured
rows, with accurate boundaries and
records, are sufficient to solve ques.
tions 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 i
a fine thing if the whole farm could
be used in growing the remarkable
novelties advertised. They are 81
immense, SO productive (when planted
with printers ink) and SO superior
in quality, that it seems great foil!
to hold on to old varieties even for /;
single season. But when the old i
exchanged for the new. and tn,
crop is gathered and the humbus
exposed, or, possibly, this fact dis
covered, that varieties successful il
!. some soils and climates are failure
sin others, then the reaction comes
He says "all men are liars" who sci
seeds; he drops back into the old ru
and does las father used to do,
''only that and nothing more"
The true method is to try costly ex
periments first on small scale, S
that the loss may be a small one If
does not succeed. And it should b
constantly remembered that abou
nine-tenths OF the new varieties an
the new methods are inferior to tn
old, yet the valuable knowledge OF tn
remaining tenth is worth the smal
Losses involved in these tests. 5
that. gaining little knowledge eac
year, there is a constant progress, a
aggregate increase of profit, an intel
lectual satisfaction that is very crafty
ing to man OF brains. 1t is ais
very pleasing to be able to contribut
to the general fund of farm knowledg
the new facts that come to us in orif
inal Investigations The highest al
thority declares: "It is more blesse
to give than to receive. IN. Y. Ol
server.
a