The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-12-13
FACTS FOR THE FARMER.
VALUE OF INTELLIGENT xPER-
IMENTs IN FARMING.
Single Test Is Not Enough, II Must be Repeated
Farm Hints-IIve Stock Items-Too
Many yArietiss--ysiuabIe Point
ers Tor the Asricalturist



In n majority OF cases in order 10 be
OF practical value. experiments con-
corning different plans OF farm man
agement must be repeated often sew
eral times. Often because this is not
done. serious mistakes are made.
Often n new method OF planting or
cultivating is tried, not alongside OF
another that Is being managed by the
old plan. so that the test can DO made
by itself. IL the result is favorable
the plan Is often taken TO be an i'm
provement without considering the
other circumstances that may have In
fuenced the result Every year new
plans or methods OF fighting insect
pests, that are injurious TO farm, gar
den or fruit crops are sent out, nine
tenths OF which are OF no value whcrev-
or the pests appear. They work first
rate where there are but few IL any
pests. the remedy that proved a success
where there was nothing TO fight. is OF
no value.
Because success has seemingly been
obtained one year. the remedy is sent
out as being reliable. The same holds
good with many new plans or methods
OF farm work; one trial Is made. and
II success is obtained the method is
duly recommended. Failures are but
little spoken about but IL second
trial is given with better results how
quick the fact becomes known. With
farm work. the real facts can only be
learned by successive experiments
carefully carried out What may be II
success one year under certain condi-
tons, will often prove failure the
next under different circumstances.
We have learned thoroughly that what
will be a success on one kind OF soil.
or with one plan OF planting, or culti-
waiting, is no proof that it will answer
under Entirely different conditions, so
that success In one locality is no
criterion that it Is just the thing to do
In another. Varieties OF fruit. grain
or vegetables that thrive we'll and
yield good crops in one locality, will
prove failure In another because the
conditions are different, and in many
cases, especially with grain. the second
crop will give better results than the
first because the variety is becoming
acclimated. New varieties often prove
successful because OF the extra care
given. The seed has been purchased
at high price, and the farmer Is dis
posed TO secure the best possible re-
suits; and because OF the extra pains
taken, succeeds. Another trial with
average preparation aud cultivation.
and the csults are not so satisfactory.
In many cases better plan Is TO
make comparative tests, planting some
OF the new varieties along side OF an
old standard. one that has been fully
tested; give as nearly the same soil.
preparation and cultivation as posi-
BILE. and save tho best OF each for seed
and give "A second trial; the results the
second year while not always con-
elusive, may at least be Instructive
In many cases more satisfactory re-
suits and considerable practical in
formation can be secured II tho same
plan is followed with new methods OF
planting and cultivating. Farm ex-
periments are always interesting, pro-
vided they are OF such a nature AS to
be practical. and are conducted in
such a way as to be reliable.