The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-26
AN IMPORTANT MISSION.

Two Kansas men went east this week
on an important mission Very little
WAS said about it, but the subject which
they nave in hand is of vital conse-
ouence to the state OF Kansas
These two men are President Nichols
and Regent E. T. Fairchild of the State
Agricultural college, and they have
gone east to find man to fill the chair
of agriculture in the college.
1t may be that at first glance it will
not seem as matter of great import
ance how this post is filled; it may seem
that plenty of good men could be found
who can teach the science of farming.
This may be true, but that Is not all
that professor of agriculture should be
in the largest agricultural college, sit
uated in what we Kansans believe to be
the greatest agricultural state in the
Union.
The man who fills this post should not
only be able to direct the instruction in
agriculture as given at the college, put
he should also be able to- direct the
farm experiment station SO that it will
be of great practical benefit to the
farmers OF Kansas.
In Minnesota wheat is the staple crop.
About ten years ago Minnesota pro-
fessor began to improve the seed of Min
nesota wheat and find out what varie-
ties were best adapted to each section
of the state. AS a result he has in
creased the average yield more than
three bushels per acre, an increase OF at
least two dollars per acre in value. Min
nesota produces about five million
acres of wheat. This means that what
this one man has accomplished is worth
ten million dollars to the wheat raisers
of Minnesota every year. Besides that
he has crossed different breeds Of wheat
until he has produced wheat from
which is manufactured an extra high
grade of flour.
Five or six years ago a young Illinois
professor began to improve seed corn
by breeding it. When he started his ex
periments go per cent of the stalks were
barren. He has reduced the number to
less than IL per cent. In other words he
has more than doubled the number of
ears of corn per acre. In addition to
them he has produced ears which run
at least a third more corn to the ear
Twice as many ears and a third more
corn to the ear means an immense in
crease in the corn crop of Illinois. There
has not been sufficient time for the i'm
proved seed to become disseminated all
over Illinois, although it is spreading
rapidly, but what an immense amount
Of wealth it will add to the annual in
come Of the farmers in a few years!
Kansas wants man who will do
something like this. Kansas is the
greatest wheat state in the union. 1t
is one of the greatest corn states. AL
ia at coming to the
front 1t produces a great quantity of
beef, and the dairy industry is growing
rapidly. No other state is capable of
such diversified farming. What is
needed is a man in the agricultural
chair at Manhattan who will accom-
plish such things for Kansas as Prof
w. NJ. Hays has for Minnesota and
Prof A. D. .Shamel has for Illinois.
An able man has just vacated the
chair-a man who is recognized as one
of the foremost authorities on the pro-
duction of beef in the United States.
but he was so hampered in his work
that he could not accomplish the best
results. and when Walter Vrooman
came along and agreed to give him
So 900 in place of the 81 800 he was re-
ceiving at Manhattan, besides furnish
ing him a new house to live in free
and a large portion of his living off
of the m odel farm he will manage.
Prof. Cottrel promptly accepted the
offer
The Kansas State Agricultural col
lege should be made primarily farm
ers college. Agriculture is rapidly ris-
ing to the dignity of a science, and it
should be treated as such. The profess
sor of agriculture in the institution
should be the main man. next to the
president, and every other department
should be made secondary to his. He
should have good assistants and should
be enabled to carry out experiments
which will be of great practical value to
the farmers and stock raisers of Kan
Sas.
1t will probably take good salary
to secure such man, but he would
prove an investment of great value to
the state.