The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-01-16

to compete for little prizes, and excit-
ing a slight interest. So early as 1892
the legislature of New York provided
for chair of chemistry, botany and
agriculture in Columbia College,; and
after a dozen years the legislatures of
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts fol-
lowed this lead Then came the period
of awakening in manufacturing activi-
ty, when ambitious brains congregated
in the towns and agriculture lam
guished See how little of under
standing there was among its follow
ers, when even so late as 1922 James
Madison could write concerning agri-
cultural chemistry, as though vaguely
limiting at something new under the
sun:
"Agriculture is field on which
chemistry has already begun to shed
its rays, and on which it promises to
do much toward unveiling the progress
of nature to which the principles of
agriculture are related
1t was not until 1916 that Yale
established professorship Of agricul-
tural chemistry and animal and vege-
table physiology, and it was almost Is
years later that the first permanent
agricultural colleges were founded
in Michigan and Maryland.
For no other class of workers in
America is such ample provision made
in the present day as for the farmers
in the way Of opportunities for getting
an education OF the most practical sort
at the least possible cost-without one
cent of cost to the farmer himself if
only be can command little resolu-
tion and ambition. The farmers alone,
of all the industrial classes, have a
separate department of the federal gov
ernment organized and conducted in
their particular behalf, which does for
them most of the costly work of expert
ment and initiation in new fields,
effecting results which, if left to be
worked out by individual pioneers,
would be delayed for many decades.
The Agricultural Department had
very modest beginning. In 1889 Con-
gress appropriated the sum Of 81 900,
which was put into the hands of the
commissioner of patents, to be expend-
ed by him upon compilation of agri-
cultural statistics and in efforts to dis
cover abroad such plants and animals
as might prove to be of value when
domesticated here. Gradually in years
following, when additional appropria-
tions were made for the same purposes,
the work entailed became too great to
be carried on by the Patent Office, and
in 1862 commissioner of agriculture
was named. In 1888 the present de-
partment took form, it's secretary rank
ing as a Cabinet officer, and its duties
being divided and subdiv:ded among
many bureau and division stats. In
1850 the congressional agricultural
appropriation was but S. 500; in 1880
it was still less than 100000; not un-
til the establishment Of the present de-
partment, in 1888, was there an appro
priation of $l,OO0,OOO for The years
work; and since that time the annual
expenditure has only been trebled.
Yet, notwithstanding this moager pro-
vision-meager as that compared with
other departments-Mr. Secretary
Wilson said recently, concerning tL,
work now going on:
"The aim Is to bring the scientists
of the department to the help of the
producers, to ascertain what we may
import that may be produced in our
own country, and to encourage its
growth and development; to search the
world Tor grains, fruits, vegetables,
grasses and legumes that may be do
mesticated here and be an improve
ment on what we have; to secure new
varieties of plants by cross fertilization
that We may establish new by brids; to
cooperate with the experiment sta
tions of the states and territories in
research valuable to the people of the
country in all sections; to seek new
markets, that our surplus products
may bring better rewards to the hus-
bandman'
This statement, broad as it is, is not
merely in the nature of prophecy for
the future; it comprehends much that
has been already accomplished. Every
phase of the work is practical to the
last degree for those who are sufficient
ly intelligent to appreciate and make
use of it. Columns would be required
for an enumeration of the highly prac-
tical things accomplished. The orange
industry in California and Florida