Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-08-02

case the development OF the man has pre-
oeded the development of the fruit itself.
In every case it is the expert who discovers
the sport; 1t Ia the expert who secures the
cross and the variety, By expert, here,
mean not necessarily a man who is trained
for that specific purpose, but one who has
himself grown in that line OF development
where his success appears.
For most of these experiments, however,
there must DO expert training in botany,
In many cases there must be expert train
ing in chemistry, and in some cases there
must be expert training in natural philos-
ophy or physics; and, more than that,
there must be attention for a long. contin-
ued series of observations in the very line
of experiment itself. For instance Pro-
fessor Kellerman, of whom you all know,
when connected with our college, under
took 4 series of experiments in Cross fer
tilization of corn-hrst, because corn was
easily fortified; second, because it can be
so easily protected from natural fertili2a-
ton; and lastly, because it can be so
easily watched, and easily tested, For
several years the experiments were carried
forward, for the purpose of finding out
the influence of two varieties of corn upon
each other. 1t was an effort to secure
definite lines of information for the de-
velopment of superior seed for our
state, The progress made was something,
-Four years, l think, we had the expert
ments under way; but when another state
bid higher for the services of Professor
Kellerman, we had to scour the whole
country for man who could afford to
come and take his place at what we could
afford to pay, and we could not find man
to take up that experiment where Pro
fessor Kellerman had left it Off, Not that
one could not train himself for the work;
not that he had not the necessary powers
as a botanist; but because that line of
work was not in his line of growth. So we
had to discontinue the experiments until
some man could fit himself by observation
and study to carry them forward.
Plant diseases are attracting immense
attention throughout the world, Plant
diseases are causing a loss to tho world
beyond our comprehension, Professor
Kellerman proved that not far from 20
per cent. of the value of our oats, in guam
tity, was lost through smut, and also
proved, 1 think, beyond dispute of any
body in this country, that that 20 per cent,
may be saved and good amount, nearly
5 per cent added to the crop by treat
ment of the seed before planting. The
method is a simple one of treating the
seed with hot water, which any of you can
learn by consulting the reports which have
been published by the station, These dis
ease germs are numerous, beyond the com
prehension of any of us who have not
Investigated the subject, Anyone can
actually find the germs of the disease if he
possess the same kind of training that is
implied from the statement we have heard
here this afternoon concerning the French
scientist of whom Chancellor Snow spoke,
and it indicates we'll the power of obser-
walton that must be developed in young
man or an old man to succeed In the
treatment of such diseases as fall under
the names of smut, rust, mildew, blight,
scab, and rot. have a personal knowl-
edge of this matter, perhaps beyond the
ordinary, and personal interest in it, for
the reason that for the last three years
my youngest son has been engaged in that
very study in the department of agricul
ture, at Washington. He was accounted
first among the assistants in the division
of vegetable pathology, because of his
advancement in that direction; and yet
that very fact made it seem to him abso-
lutely necessary that he should spend two
or three years in study where he could have
better advantages than are afforded in
this country, and he is now in Europe
pursuing his studies for further develop
ment of power to reach these plant dis
eases.
The same kind of study is needed, if we,
as men, would know what is before us in
the shape of insect pests, and how to deal
with them. But l need not dwell upon
this matter before you. The process of
study has grown wonderfully within the
last 20 years. Why, it is only little over
90 years since thought could be an en-
tomolOgist myself without giving very
much study to the subject. knew more
than any of my neighbor teachers, except
one or two, in that particular line of study,
and it seemed to me that l could, without
very much work, become teRcher of ento-
mOlogy. l did not, only because l could
do something better. To-day there are
in the country many experts in economic
entomology, with an organized society,
ready to give their full attention to these
questions. 1t is through their efforts that
we have made such large strides in our
knowledge on these important Questions,
and are able to distinguish friends from
foes.
Feeding Experiments: A peculiarly in
teresting field of inquiry pertains to cattle
feeding, hog feeding, sheep feeding-feed-
ing of any animals for profit and comfort,
Expert observation as to elements of feed
stuffs, digestiblity, appetizing qualities
and physiological effects must determine
best conditions for economy of feed,
profit on the feed used, quality of meat
produced, quantity and quality of milk,
development of working power, or pro-
motion of breeding condition. An hour
might be spent in showing the intricacies
of single investigation, making the rec.
ords of observations alone more intricate
than the books of banker, and requiring
almost the ingenuity of an Edison to un-
ravel the complications of phenomena in
volved. The cost of such experiments for
apparatus and oversight and necessary
repetition makes the work one of years.
AS yet this country has only just begun
the series of tests that are needed to give
certainty, where we now have only con-
lecture.
Stock Breeding: Ideals are to be estab-
lished for economy of meat in the beef
breeds, for economy of milk in dairy
breeds, for the production of quantity and
quality for butter and for cheese; breed
ing for early maturity, for permanence of
characteristics, for endurance and longev-