The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1898-06-01
arbour Democrat

suits more Effectire-Good Words fol-
the ainstaking Laborers who have
thu Institution in charge.
iarbour Democrat
To the majority of the citizens Of
the state the most interesting estab
lishment in Morgantown would bt
the Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton. Its director, Mr.. Stewart, is q
broad minded, well-educated West
Virginian, who combines the execu
tive ability and the scientific and
practical training requisite for thi;
position
A farmer himself. he has at heart
the interests of the farmers of West
Virginia, and is endeavoring in ey-
cry way to bring the station intc
closer touch with them and to bend
the energies OF his staff and work tC
their welfare.
Some of the Investigations which
are being conducted have beer
brought to your notice through these
columns, but only by seeing the
work shop and becoming acquainted
with the character of men who are
conducting these Investigations does
one realize their Importance and
value and the good influence which
the station, under this competent
management, must have upon the
agricultural interests of the state.
Each department is well equipped
more especially is this true of the
chemical laboratories, smaller one
having been lately fitted up with the
most improved apparatus and equip
ment.
The chemical library contains 9
very fine collection of the best and
latest works on the subject: the best
English, German and French chemi
cal journals are received.
The chief of this department ID
Prof. Hite, whose name is connected
with several important discoveries
and who is well known in the chemi
cal world as an original and earnest
worker.
A very large amount of work il
required in this department by the
fertilizer law-indeed, very few Of
those who receive bulletins from
year to year have any idea of the
amount of work the accuracy with
which every detail must be carried
out, or the benefit which the agricul
tural classes receive from this work
Analyses are made of great
many samples Of soils, limestone
minerals, mineral and drinking wa
ter, which are submitted from time
to time by citizens from various
parts of the state.
The chemical department also as
sists very largely in the work which
is done in the other departments, the
accuracy and Importance of much
of their work depending upon the
chemist.
Prof. Corbett is a genial, well
equipped man in horticulture. BY
his thorough knowledge of the sub
ject in all of it's phases he has prov
en- himself very useful to the fruit
growing regions of the state.
Prof. Hopkins, native West Vir
ginian, we were sorry to find con
fined to bed by illness. His depart
ment is one of exceeding interest
involving the study of insects in re
lation to general agriculture, horti
culture and forestry. Developments
along this line show the exceeding
Importance Of this science to the
agricultural classes.
Prof. Hopkins is now investiga
ting the San Jose scale, which has
already done decided harm to or
chards in different parts of the state
One fact stands out very promi
nently to visitors to the station, and
that is, the need of the state having
good experimental farm. This is
one thing the legislature should
look into and obtain. 1t is plair
that the agricultural experiments
will not be at their best unless fit
ting farm for the purpose is the pos
session of the station.
ANOTHER REFERENCE
Grafton Leader.
We would feel that we had done oul
readers an unkindness if we omitted
saying few words about the agricul
tural Experiment Station which we
had the pleasure of visiting during
the editorial association.
Many of you receive from time tc
time the bulletins which are sent out
but few of you realize the work that
is being done there and the aid which
the station offers you in your. work.
The director, Mr.. Stewart, desires
that the station shall be Of the great
est possible benefit to the citizens OF
the state and this can only be when
the people of the state give him theiI
aid and cooperation.
Many problems confront the farmer
in his daily work which he finds him
self unable to solve; he has not the
time, the facilities nor the training
requisite to their solution. Here is a
number of men who are devoting Their
lives each to the study of one branch
of agriculture.
These men have made themselves
specialists in their particular work.
Mr.. Stewart offers you their advice
and assistance-all that is necessary
for you to do is to ask for it. This
correspondence is becoming quite
large, about fifteen thousand letters
In answer to such requests being sent
every year.
The equipment Of the station is OF
the highest order. Each member OF
the staff is conducting original inves-
LEGATIONS alorg this particular line.
The experiment which many Of you
would like to conduct are being made
here for you in chemistry, horticul-
ture, entomology, forestry and all the
varied subjects which make up the
great science of agriculture. Mr..
Stewart is directing this work with
skill and ability, putting his whole
energy into it.
In one particular the station is very
much hampered. The small farm
which was purchased "A few years age
is entirely inadequate and unsuited to
its needs. The station should have
land more adapted to cultural exper-
iments of such character that the
work could be done with modern
agricultural implements and should
be Of sufficient acreage to permit in
vestigations to lie made in breeding OF
cf1olx n nd ~ lor ct l1diac Of Lilo oh q r