Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-08
NEBUCHADNEZZAR WANTED
The Agricultural Department Anxious for
an Expert on Grasses.
Two New Scientific Branches for the
Horny Handed Farmcr-To study
After Effects of Rainfall.

The Secretary Of Agriculture has de-
cided to make two important additions to
the working force of the department which
VIII very materially increase it's value TO
the farming classes of the country. The
two positions provided for are an agrostolo-
gfst and head for the division in the
weather bureau, to be devoted to the SUBJ
ject of meteorology in its relation to agri-
cultural soils Both these posts while appar-
emily of the most scientific and theoretical
sort viii be actively connected with the
practical farming industry.
The position of agrostologist is simply
that OF man who is thoroughly familiar
with that branch of botany which deals
with grasses. 1t is now known that there
are more than 10000 varieties Of grasses
IN existence and their importance to the
farmer cannot well be overestimated. 1t
is Oh the utmost Importance to the farmer
VINO desires to get the best out of his land
TO know something of the relative merits
and characteristics of grasses, and this
Information the agrostologist OF the depart
n ent who Is to be attached to the division
or botany, is expected to furnish
The Secretary having given his approval
OF the general plan of the work mapped out
for the new department has authorized Mr..
B. d. Coville, chief of the division of botany,
to correspond with the leading botanists of
the country, stating to them what is de-
sired, and securing the names of suitable
| has been given to understand that the de-
| partment wants the ablest expert that can
| be secured to prepare monographs on
grasses. care for the grasses in the herba-
| rum, identifying the grasses sent here, and
| to conduct correspondence upon this sub
| ject. This agent will also have charge Of
any special Investigations of grasses and
| forage plants which may be undertaken by
the department.
Few and Far Between
| Assistant Secretary Dabney, in conversa-
| ton with Star reporter this morning. said
that he would not be surprised if there were
not more than a score of men in the world
who could be regarded as experts in this
branch of botanical study. Notwithstand-
| ing its great Importance from a scientific
and unitarian standpoint there are so few
| openings for a man who has made a spe-
| cialty of this subject that it is hard to say
| even If there are any of the first rank in this
country. although it is expected that Mr..
| Covlle's research will discover at least a
few. The salary of the new position is to
| be $500, rather more than the department
is usually able to give, but the Secretary
| regards the new post as of such Importance
| that he wants to get the very best man that
| can be had.
To Help Crops.
The new division added to the organiza-
ton of the weather bureau. Devoted TO the
|
agricultural Soils is to study the climatic
conditions of heat and moisture under the
surface of the ground and the relation of
these conditions to crop production. The
first suggestion for such a division came
| in June, 1891, from the Association of
| American Agricultural Colleges and Ex-
| pertinent Stations, which submitted 10 the
| department a resolution asking that the
| work of the weather bureau should be en-
| nhVSinal c
| and changes of agricultural soils. This mat
ter. according to the department. Is of the
greatest Importance to the farmer. The
! reports of the weather bureau on rain
fall carry the matter only as far as the
surface of the ground. 1t is after the moist
ure percolates into the ground, however,
that II becomes of the greatest importance
| to the farmer.
The Secretary has appointed to be chief
of the new division Prof Milton Whitney
| of Maryland, late of Johns Hopkins Uni
| versity, and the writer of d special and
very valuable report on the physical prop
| critics of the soil and their relation to
moisture and crop distribution, published by
| the weather bureau in 1892
| Dr. Dabney said, in speaking of the new
| departure: Il regard ii as of the highest
importance to agriculture. 1t VIII not do
to leave the study of the rain fall just at
| the point where its benefits TO the farmer
| become most marked. Nothing enters so
essentially into the conditions OF crop grow
ing as moisture. If We could control the
| Application or water to the growing crop
we could control the most important con-
| ditions of its growth; hence the necessity
| that the work of the weather bureau
| should include the meteorology of the
| soil and that ii should continue to follow
| and study the rain fall after il enters the
SOIL The appointment is an excellent one"
| added DR.. Dabney. Il know Prof Whitney
well and regard him admirably fitted
to carry on the work assigned him.
Not Opposed to Science.
One of the leading officials of the Agri-
cultural Department. in talking with The
| Star man this morning, said that the pro-
! vision for these two new posts on the part
| of the Secretary ought to remove entirely
| the erroneous impression that he Is opposed
| to scientific work in the department. Such
according to this gentleman, is by no means
| the case. for Mr.. Morton has not the slight
est objection to science per Sc 1t is only
when he considers that work is being done
under government auspices that is neither
| authorized nor needed that he feels IL in
cumbent upon him to step in and interfere
Mr. Morton's attitude toward the weather
bureau. he said, has given some people the
idea that he was opposed to advanced work.
but that his hearty cooperation in the mat
ter OF the two prODOSed additions should -.