The herald., 1896-10-24
PROF. HILGARD AS DIR. JEKYLL
ANTI Mp. HynE

PROF. HILGARD AS DIR. JEKYLL
AND MIR. HYDE.
Prof. Hilgard has told the people of
California again and again that he
could advise them as to the needs of
their crops in the matter of fertiliza-
ton from an analysis of their soils. A
special sponsor of Prof. Hilgards from
Berkeley, Mr.. Victor H. Henderson, in
a letter to the Times of last Sunday,
has, in praising up the college of agri-
culture and defending Prof. Hilgard,
this to say: ANY farmer who finds
that his crops will not grow well and
wants to know what the soil needs to
make 1t fertile can send samples of it
to the University Of California agricul-
tural department. 1t will be analyzed,
and he will be told just what to do to
correct the deficiencies in it's chemical
composition"
We find an advertisement in one of
our country exchanges of late stu
dent of Prof Hilgard's, recently from
Berkeley, which reads: IF you are in
doubt as to what kind of fertilizers to
use, or how much to apply, it will pay
you to have your soil analyZed."
Prof. Hilgard said before the last
farmers institute: 1--WE cannot carry
on culture experimentation at the sta
tions on virgin soils" These stations
are, however, several years old.
teach at home before audiences not
posted on these matters and upon whom
he wishes to make the impression that
he is the great, first and only investi-
gator of virgin and arid soils"
But how he changes his character
when he goes abroad and talks to an au-
dience capable of weighing what he
nays. e=s
At the meeting Of the American AS
sociation of Agricultural Colleges and
Experiment Stations held at Denver,
August, 1895, in summing up his paper
on Late Progress in Soil Examination,
he said:
1 think, therefore, that I am justified
in indulging the hope that we are on
the trail of method for the definite as
certainment of the condition of a soil
as to available (non-nitric) nitrogen,
which, with the method of Dyer for the
corresponding determinations with re-
spect to potash and phosphoric acid
when all are perfected, would effectu-
ally solve the problem of the manure
requirements of cultivated soils that
has SO long resisted the efforts of chem
ists In all cases the pot or
field test will havet he last word.'
r.. These expressions are hidden away
amid 500 pages Of his last voluminous
verbiage pile.
Could a man wade deeper In the field
Of Doubt Il think, therefore, am Jus
titled in indulging the hope that we are
on the trail of a method which
when all are perfected" etc. Why! a
man could not get to heaven by the
broad gate of the Salvation army, who
had not more faith" than Prof. Hilgard
expressed when he produced the above
paragraph.
BY tho way what is Prof. Hilgard' s
definition of virgin soil?
Generally VICINITY is supposed to have
ia
life; but Prof e. w. Hilgard seems to
consider soil virgin" until such time
as it has ceased td be prolific.
FIELD EXPERIMENTS IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
The American Fertilizer in its May
and September numbers has an account
old north state to promote its agricul-
tural interests. If those in authority
in California, instead Of dawdling fool
ishly over uncertain analyses of soils,
had been at work along the same lines
the proverbial two blades of grass might
be growing where there is now but one.
The field of this experiment station
covers some thousands of acres and is
under the care of the state board of hor-
ticultufe, the state agricultural expert
ment station and the German kali works
which has one member on the supervis-
Ing committee ana contributes TO the
expenses incurred.
"The experiments embody field tests
with fertilizers upon an extended scale,
both upon vegetables and fruits of
the former eight varieties are under
cultivation and of the latter nine va
rieties. The plan is that "twenty-nine
plats with a tenth Of an acre in each plat
shall be assigned to each vegetable with
different fertilizing ingredients applied
in each case" Like methods are used
with the fruits. The results as rapidly
as they can be obtained will be given to
the public.
An editorial comment on this impor-
tant organized effort in North Carolina
wisely adds "that the experimental
farm will prevent the slow-plodding and
very expensive teaching by experience
in promoting profitable orchards and
vineyards"
What is for the public benefit should
be attempted at the public charge. Cali
fornia was not made for the agricul-
tural college, but the college was made
for California.
HOW THE REFUSE FRUIT is UTIL-
IZED.
BY "refuse fruit" is not meant decayed
fruit or that which is in any way unfit
for human consumption. What the term
Is intended to mean here is sound fruit
which, either on account of it's very
small size or inferior appearance or the
condition of the market cannot be pro-
fitably marketed in it's natural form.
Small prunes at the present price are an
example We know of sales made at
1905 this year by a dryer to dealer at
cent pound. Such fruit as we'll as
pears, apples and in fact most kinds of
fruit which may happen to sell at low
price, could be marketed in fairly large
quantities If treated as our French COM
petitors treat their refuse fruit. The
following is description Of the process
given by Henry q. Dosch to the Port
land Oregonian:
The fruits, after being washed, are
placed in a copper-lined kettle and
boiled soft (pears and apples being first
Quartered, skins left on) then passed
through sieve, which leaves the pits,
seeds, cores and skins Of whatsoever
kind Of fruit is being prepared. The jam
thus produced is again put into the ket-
tie and boiled down, sugar being then
added to all tart fruits. Great care must
be taken to prevent scorching by con-
slant stirring with wooden spoon or
paddle, using the confectioner's mode
OF stirring in the shape of the figure 49,"
When Of the proper consistency (Which
Is ascertained by placing spoonful on
plate, and II no Juices separate, it is
fItht) Il = poured&if done In large