The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-27
SCIENTIFIC

AN x Ss
Monthly contains an interesting paper
by Professor Parsons on an interesting
subject. Some forty years ago, the hrst
agricultural experiment station was
started by a few German farmers at
Moeckern, and in spite OF a world OF
bucolic ignorance and prejudice the idea
has fought it's way into general accept
ance and favor. France and Germany
were prompt to recognize the benefits
that systematic study promised for the
agriculturist and to-day these two
countries can boast OF no less than ITO
such establishments. In the United
States, the cause has advanced more
slowly. In its initial stages it aroused
the conservative a~ntagonism OF a con-
sentative class, and "book-farmlng" was
scoffed at as one of the numerous fads
of a fad-ridden time. But the prophets
were doomed to disappointment. The
first agricultural experiment station in
this country was located at Middleton,
Connecticut, in 1879. Within two years
it had not only justified its existence,
but it had SO superlatively proved Its
positive value to the agrlculturlst that
fourteen states fell into line and estab-
lished similar institutions Of their own.
Al the present time the original number
has swelled to sixty-nine. Montana, Idaho
and Washington alone are in the rear.
The annual expenditure of these stations
represents an outlay OF one mil
lion dollars. Four hundred and twenty
three scientific Investigators are kept in
constant employment, and tho results
of their labors are seen in the prepara-
ton Of bulletins already in the hands OF
100000 farmers.
It is q gratifying synopsis Of work
that the professor lays before his read
ers. Of tho total number Of stations,
twenty seven are Investigating climatic
conditions; t~hirty-fve, fertilizers; thirty
one, soil elements, tlllage, drainage, irrl-
CATION; and thirty-nlne, crop varieties
and culture. Twenty-Five are mGk-
ng a special study Of feed for
stock; seventeen, Of silos and silage;
eighteen, Of %dairying, and twenty-four OF
feeding experiments for milk and meat.
Twenty-three are devoting attention to
the chemical analyses Of soil and prod
ucts; thlrty-three to plant diseases,
seeds and weeds; thirty-five to fruits
and vegetables; nine to forestry; fifteen
to veterinary science; twenty-five to in
scots; four to bees and poultry, and six
to sugar making.
With such a wide field of labor, under
skilled and careful supervision, it is not
hard to believe that the profits already
gained more than counterbalance the
necessary expenditures. The Connect
cut station alone, according to the pro-
fessor's statement, has saved to the
farming class hundreds of thousands OF
dollars by its analyses of fertilizers and
it's exposures of fraud. More than that,
there has been d general advance all
along the line of agricultural produc-
ton. The farmer has only to consult
the bulletins OF the various stations tc
find lessons on the true principles o!
crop rotation, stock feeding and other
kindred subjects, which he could not
possibly acquire by his unaidet
endeayor in the course of his natura
existence. The farmer has long beer
the victim OF unjust class discrimina
ton, and the exodus from the village
to the city can create little surprise il
the minds OF those who are cognizant 0
the facts. But scientific methods
.book farming" and a democratic ad
ministration of national affairs ought il
tirae to check a movement that is ne
ther more nor less than a national ca
lamity. No nation can afford to hay
its Drawn and sinews mctamorphose
into the sickiy artisan Of tho crowde
manufacturing city. The experiment;
stations have done much to prove tn
wisdom Of their institution, and if the
can help to make the farming class bot
prosperous and contanted, they ma
fairly lay claim to tho titIe Of nationa