The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-02
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENTS
Boys Gaming Scientific knowledge to
be Used in Every Day Life.
A GREAT FOUNDATION BENG LAID
Personal Observations of Interesting Facts Of a
Scientific or Economic Nature Relating
TO Agriculture Told in Clear,
Strong, Plain Way.


II have seen something this week,
said one of North Cardinals most emil
nent men, which is a great revelation
to me, and which gives me much hope
concerning the future of our State. 1t is
| the instruction in agriculture and rural
science at the A. and NJ College. Last
Thursday night, in company with sew
eral other gentlemen, 1 went out to at
| tend a meeting of a students club, or
ganized to study these subjects. What
/ saw and heard then, and what ] learn
| from the officers of the institution con-
corning instruction in agriculture at the
college, satisfies me beyond a doubt
that a great foundation is being laid
there for agricultural education and the
training of farmers who will some day
make our old fields as rich gardens.
| The young men were assembled in
Horticultural Hail. A member of the
senior class was president and a fresh
man was secretary About thirty MEM
beers of the club and about a dozen visi-
| tors constituted the company. The
president called the meeting to order
promptly, and then announced that the
first thing on the program was Person
al Observations 1t seems that each
member of the club is expected to per-
sonallY observe some interesting fact, or
series of facts, of scientific or econom-
ic nature relating to agriculture. and to
tell the club what he has seen; a sort
of experience meeting Four different
speakers gave the club an account OF
their personal observations. One told
of minute little animalcule, called the
Cyclops. which he had been studying
under the microscope. Another had been
experimenting with willow twigs, try
ing to root a twig by burying the small
end instead of the large. Soon a sprout
put forth from the large end. and many
roots from the small end, but thus ap
parently sending the sap and nourish-
ment the reverse direction from ma
lures: presently these roots all died
and other roots put out beyond the
sprout. from the large end, pushing
down through the air into the ground;
thus showing that the sap would not
run the wrong way Another observer
had been testing the influence of various
kinds of bacteria on milk.
Each of these speakers seemed thor
oughly familiar with his subject and
deeply interested in it, He spoke off
hand, without notes, and in a clear, sim
pie and natural manner. Evidently his
eyes had been open to see and to study
! nature, and his mind had become quick.
active and alert. There was no ranting
or gesticulating, no effort at oratory or
defamation. but a plain, strong, clear
statement of facts in a perfectly easy
and natural way. Some of the speakers
We're interrupted by questions, which
they answered The audience were
deeply interested. Nobody was talking
or gaping or otherwise engaged than in
listening. Every performance was spon-
taneous. enthusiastic, clearcut and
I strong. I was simply amazed. 1t was
such contrast to the usual literary So
ciety performance in our schools and
colleges
After the personal observation fea-
ture came most interesting talk on
mosquitoes. The dissemination of typhoid
fever and of yellow fever by mosquitoes
was explained; and the various expert
ments which have been performed in this
country, in Italy in Cuba and else
where along this line were related Then
came a very interesting paper on evo-
luton, with arguments derived from
fossil remains, illustrated by black
board drawings which dealt with the
evolution of the horses hoof and the
horns of the deer. Then followed obser-
vations of chrysantnemum rust, by the
president of the club. After this came
one of the most delightful talks of the
evening on autumnal colorations. by
freshman who told of the changes in
color of the oaks, naples, gums, ashes
and other trees, evincing large acquaint-
anee and exact knowledge as well as
almost affectionate interest The last
paper of the evening dealt with spar
! rows in relation to agriculture, by the
secretary. a bright young fellow, who
told of the many ways in which the ma
tive American sparrow is helpful to the
farm and how the English sparrow is cor
respondingly harmful.
"All together there were ten different
speeches and papers, including one not
mentioned by Prof. Stevens. who sat
back in the audience apparently an in
significant member of the club. These
ten performances. by as many different
mon, occupied exactly fifty minutes. J.
was amazed when l looked at my watch
and recalled so many things said and
exhibited in so short time I was still
more amazed and greatly delighted at
tho spirit and the intelligence displayed
by the young men. President Winston