The herald., 1897-05-21
tEdlted by Prof. A. J. cook.)


y; Experimental research has taken OF
large proportions during the last few
years. Those countries, like Germany
which have done the most in this dlrec
tion have reached far ahead in accom-
pfishment of those countries which hav'
neglected such work. The United States
has launched out, especially in the lin'
of agricultural experimentation, to al
extent which has been eurpriSa L
most European nations 1t is true, how
ever, that even the most enlightened ma
tions, like England, France and Ger
many, have loudly praised the unitee
States for doing $40 much of this work Il
is patent to all who have studied init
the matter that real progress in the arts
Is largely dependent upon scientific re-
search 1t is equally obvious that there
is no business or industry more complex
than that of agriculture. The problenlc
which it has in hand are often so intri-
cate that 1t not only requires the very
best talent, knowledge and energy for
their solution, but it also requires long
years of the most patient research to op-
tain any results that are at all worth
the seeking. Lawes and Gilbert have
proved this true in their admirable in
vestigations, conducted at Rothamsted,
England. 1t was scores of years before
they reached the conclusions which nave
been so greatly beneficial to agriculture,
and have put many questions regarding
tillage and fertilization on sound basis
of fact 1t is wise, then, that our govern :
ment should put this work of experiment
tation into the hands of able men, who
should not be under political control,
but should be able to plan a long system
of experiments and put these in the
hands of experts, who hold on to their
work, perhaps as have Lawes and Gill
bert, for more than half-century. I
believe it is true that nearly all the states
are coming more and more to recognize
this fact, and are working under these
two rules-first, to get the best men for
the work, and, second, to hold them to it
without change, perhaps for scores of
years
1t is difficult for any experiment sta
tion board to carry out these most ad-
mirable rules. Our people are impatient
and desire results at once. They do not
know that this is often impossible. and
so many times clamor either for conclu-
eions that shall be practical or else that
the staff be changed. This is exceeding
1y unfortunate, but it is very important
that we DO everything to educate the
people to the true condition, that they
may be willing to wait the required time.
In the last number of Nature april %
1897, page 596). very scientific paper
published in London. there is a very able
article upon this subject. This article
shows how wide the knowledge is and
how painstaking must be the work in
order to make the conclusions from sci
entif1c experiment of any value. II
shows, what every observant man must
feel that hasty experimentation per-
formed by those who have no adaptation
or skill in such matters, is almost worth
less.
1t follows from the above that it is al
ways wise to have experiment stations
and experiment work under the super
vision of government employees True,
Lawes and Gilbert were private individ-
uals and have done magnificent work
but they were men of culture, of great
wealth, and had the scientific sense to
appreciate the obstacles before them ar d
the patience to wait even for fifty or more
years that they might obtain valuab BILE
results. Usually, if private funds are
given for such work, the length of time
required to determine real truths is SO
great, that parties furnishing the means
will grow tired and abandon the enter
prise before any good is accomplished d.
Again, the persons employed will very
likely not be scientific in their meth
DDS, and SO will report results which are
etd 70 PC,
institutes men often say that they have
tried stable manure and artificial fer
tilizers side by side for two years, and
they report, after that limited time, Just
which should be used. In all such cases
no valuable results can be secured in less
than Gozen or score of years In all
cases where plats' are used under differ
ent treatment. it is necessary to exercise
care that very few would even think Of
First, the whole field should be planted tc
the same crop for some years to note
where the best results are secured with
out any fertilizers Thus the peculiar.
tiles of the soil in each plat are deter
mined. If this Is not done it cannot be
known but that the soil in some places
was already richer than in others. After
this preliminary work is done. no results
worthy to be reported could be secured
In less than fifteen or twenty years Sucl
unscientific experimentation often leads
to very great errors and as often tc
great losses.
Much of the soil near the mountains In
Southern California is granite gravel
Granite is largely composed of potash
felspar. This substance is very rich in
potash. DR.. Hilgard has analyzed many
specimens of our granite soils and finds
them very rich not only in potash, but ir
available potash-that is potash in SOL
uble form, which can readily be utilized
by the plant. In all such cases II Isl cer-
tainly unnecessary to apply potash ia
the soil. Yet, in the face of such testi-
mony, men Will use complete fertilizer
Tor one or two years and announce witt
certainty that all our soils need potash
to perfect the fruit. II such experiments
were tried for fifteen or twenty years
and each time, or in q majority of cases
gave better results il fruit, then We
should have to announce. in spite of the
analyses, that there was need of potasf
In the soil even of our Southern Califor.
MIA orchards. This hasty. slinshot
experimentation is most mischieyous
Men accept the statement as truth ant
are very likely to pay out hundreds O.
dollars for material which is not needed
at ALL
Therefore, we wish to urge upon all ou
farmers and fruit growers that they
cfamor not for more, but for better ex
perimentation. That they insist upoI
having the best ability in this field, anC