The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-20
EXPERIMENT STATIONS.
Their Probable Value to the Farming
World.

Their PROBABLE value TO the Farming
World.
II the agricultural experiment stations Of
this country rise only half way to the level
Of their opportunity for doing good how
great will be the advancement OF our agri-
cultural interests in the next twenty five
years. Our government has In the past
fifteen years evinced hearty interest in the
advancement of the farmers, and,
despite the allegations OF many
popalists to the contrary, our "men of au-
thority" are as q class ever ready to do any
thing that they reasonably and constitu-
tionally can to put our agriculture on a
higher plane. We cannot expect those
populists who entertain the belief that our
government could properly lend the farmers
all tine money they needed at per cent. a
year and yet won't do it. to concur in any
statement of this character.
1t must be admitted that our government
was either slow to recognize the fact that
it could do anything for agriculture, and
that arose in all probability from the fact
that American agriculture needed no help
until within the past fifteen or twenty years
Prior TO the war it would have been taken
almost as an insult to have intimated to the
American farmer, the southern one espe-
cay. that he needed any assistance. If,
.peTchance, he needed any artual cash for
any purpose be had the securities to back
his application for it.
In the progress of evsDtsn the time came,
however, when southern farming, along
with that in every section OF the country,
entered upon decline, that one misfortune
and another has led up TO a chronic condl-
tion quite the reverse of prosperity.
By degrees legislation was appealed TO to
do something in behalf of the farming in
terast, Our government is not paternal
enough IL its character to authorize 1t to
give assistance in the way of cash loans or
bounties, 1t proceeded, however, to do all
that it could afford TO do legitimately. 1t
gave the farmers a representative in the
cabinet, whose sole business is to study the
farmers interest; to act as their leader and
suggest such measures for relief as may be
legitimate. Among other things done, aud
In our Judgment to prove rich in value to
the coming generations of farmers, was the
establishment of fully equipped expert
ment station in each of the forty-four
states
We believe that time, and not far off
time either, will sustain the statement that
these experiment stations will be the means
OF revIving onr dropping agriculture, of
giving an impetus to farming in new and
broader lines Of effort. II they do their
work fully and conscieutiously there is no
reason why they should not arouse in the
breasts of the younger generation the live
hest interest in an occupation that has been
greatly divided and brought into considera-
bic disrepute in the past ten or fifteen years.
We use the pronoun they" 1t is not the
Georgia station alone that will be indu-
entail in setting the stakes for the new agri-
culture that is to restore Georgia to agri-
Gu tural prosperity. At least ak or seven
stations are engaged in the work that will
elncidste he great questions ~ of grass and
stock, which is the best for our lands, (2 of
restoring cheaply fertility to our soils
80 that they will produce large aud profit
able crops; (3) how to grow the various
vegetable crops to ship 10 northern mar
kets; AZ what fruit aud nut trees we will
ind profitable to grow. They will secure
Tor us the practical information which as
individuals we are not able to acquire.
We confidently look to the experiment
stations to lead the march of progress. Let
US cooperate with them TO the fullest ex-
tent possible, not expecting anything I'M
reasonable, but giving all the encourage
ment possible.
an expression of opinion from our lnteli-
gent readers as to what subjects they esteem
most important for the experimental field.
What subject do you desire TO receive in
formation upon in preference to ell others.
the next and the nextg We would be glad
TO have your statement
Do you get the bulletin Of your state sta
ton! You ought to have 1t. 1t ia pub
hshed for you and you can get it if you
want it.