St. Tammany farmer., 1899-08-12
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
EXPERIMENTAL FARMING.

tAkMENA AND FIAN En-
EXPERIMENTAL FARMING.
TAe vaIue u Scientific ExDerinents
II Order to Test the Capacity
sf the seil.
There was . time when farmcfs
were inclined to be skeptical about
the value of scientific experiments,
but that time has passed. The work Of
the experiment stations in the diner
ent states has made itself so felt that
the most intelligent farmers now feel
ut a loss without the bulletins and an
nual reports THERE'S nothing theoreti-
cal about experimenting; on the con-
trary, it is esentially practical and the
successful farmers OF to-day are those
who experiment ON thir own account
Experimenting may be defined as
questioning the soil SO as to learn cy
means of increased or decreasct;
Yields which special line Of treatment
is most economical and profitable.
II is generally admitted that cuita'
walton, rotation and fertilization ar.
three of the most important factors IN
farming. Every farmer knows the val
tie to his soil Of thorough cultivation.
Experience has also taught him that
a soil needs q rest from one kind OF
crop, snd that it is well to change OIL
now and then, and still better 10 select
. series Of crops and grow them In
regular order. Furthermore, by in
cluding in this series a legume like
clover or peas he actually increases
the fertility Of his land, and saves
money of his fertilizer bill, which he
would have had to pay for nitrogen.
The third factor in good farming.
namely fertilization, though formerly
rot 50 well understood as the other
two, is, thanks to the good work being
accomplished by the agricultural
press, experiment stations and 1arIn-
ers' Institutes, rapidly becoming fa-
miliar and ineligible subject among
farmers, and the skillful and nlastcrly
manner in which many farmers dis
cuss the important principles involved
in plant feeding might well make some
college professors envious. 1t is true
that the principles involved ure not
very complicated. but when farmer
cnce understands them and combines
Herewith a practical knowledge of
farm luatters, he is better equipped
than those who merely have theoreti-
cal understanding Of the question.
There is really nothing complicat-
ed about farm experiments. The work
of the experiment stations. is neces'
sarily liluited to certain lines in diff
fercnt st ties, and an there is large
diversity Of soils and climates. it il
not to be expected that one station In
each state can make q study OF all the
problems which beset the farmer. This
fact has been recognized by many In
fuential agricultural and horticulture
organizations, and with view to sup
plemerting the work Of the station,
they have organized experiments
farms on their own account.
Probably the most typical expert
mental farm in this country is that oi
the North Carolina Horticultural %
ciety, ut Southern Pines, in that state
This farm contains two departments
one devoted to trials with fruits, and
the other to vegetables. The soil is
well adapted for experimental work
being of a sandy nature, and quite uni.
form in composition. The work is car
ried on by trained experts and is be-
ginning to attract attention all Oyer
the country. Regular reports and bnl-
letins are freely distributed, and the
writer, who has had IN opportunity ot
studying them. would advise all broth
er farmers to write to the superinten-
dent at Southern Pines and secure
copies. They offer many valuable sug-
gestions for experimental work.
There is no reason why Every farmer
should not have an experimental farm
OF his own on o small scale, by devot-
ing one Of his fields to that purpose,
which can be done without disturbing
the regular routine 0f his seasons
work. One or two or three rows. as ths
case may be, may serve as one plot
upon which certain fertilizers can be
applied, and after leaving another row
for dividing line, the same number
may be selected - = plot for another
APPLICATION, the extent of the exeriment
being Of course regulated by the num-
Der of questions involved. In each case
it is only necessary to drive stakes nj
the end Of the rows in order to desig.
nate them and follow :. q systematic
mode of treatment for each one.
Careful notes should be taken dur
ing the growing season. the yield
weighed separately, and proper com
parsons made 1t the end of the year
This will throw much light ON the ef.
fects Of the different fertilizers used
It must not be supposed. however, that
one years experimenting win always
solve the question. The trial should
be repeated until conclusive results an
reached. and the information derived
will more than compensate for all the
time and money expended in study
ing the principles involved.-B. H, in
Tarmers' Home Journal.