The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-11-11
FARMER PLANTER.
THE EXPERIMENT STATION.
Fiment Station In Greater Than
Many of Them Imagine.

! riment Station In Greater Than
Many of Them Imagine.
The real purpose of the experiment
farm and its relation to the farmers OF
the state do not seem to be clearly un-
derstood. There seems to be in the |.
public mind a confusion of the expert
ment farm with model farm The |
two are by no means the same; but |
that no distinction is made is evident |
from the expressions you hear in q !
crowd going through an experiment
farm: THAT corn is not as good as
mine." says one, or John. you can beat
that cotton" Such comparisons show
that the speakers think the crops grown
at the experiment farm are intended
as models for the farmers Of the state.
This is a mistake. What then is the
purpose Of the experiment farm? 1t
is to test the value and adaptabilities
of new crops or new varieties that have
been originated in other sections or are
recommended by individuals to Develop
useful crops from native weeds or
grasses, to test methods of culture and
fertilization, and to submit the results
TO the farmers of the state in q form
that will be practically useful.
1t is clear that since the greater part
of its work is really experiment, that
there must be many failures-more fail
ures than successes. The fact Is that
the advantage of the experiment sta
tion is just this: To save the individual
farmer the time and expense of making
these experiments and necessary fall
ures himself. 1t is cheaper to appropri-
ate money TO the purpose and let them
be made once for all than for each OF
us to do this work for himself. 1t is
unreasonable to expect all the crops
we find ON the experiment farm to be
successful and useful as models for our
farming. What we have a right to ex-
pect is a clear statement Of the meth
DDS, ETC., which have been tested, and
the results of the test, so that we may
avoid those that are not good and
make use of those that are.
To illustrate: The maypop is perfect
ly familiar to us all, as a weed, and
most of us have enjoyed sucking the
seed while we were boys. 1t Is quite
possible that from this weed may be
developed fruit that would be a source
of pleasure and profit On the otheI
hand, it is possible that an attempt te
develop such fruit would only enc
In failure. Certainly the average farm
er has no time or money to spend OF
its development. Right here comes II
the experiment station. Through 1t w
all combine to make the test. The cos
TO each of us Is very small, and If thu
attempt is successful we shall all shar'
the benefit.
Or again. our woods are full OF wilt
Jegumes. Some of these with prope
handling may prove equal in feedin
value to clover and alfalfa and, beinl
native to our soil. will be easier 7
grow. But no individual has the tim
and money necessary to make the tes'
with the possibility Of failure that ha
always to BIZ reckoned with. And S
we should look to our experiment sta
lions to do this for us. Their servic
in regard to testing new varieties an
methods of cultivation and so forth
have done much good in these diret
lions. Let us judge them by their res
purpose, and we shall not only be moi
lust to them, but we shall be in be-
ter position to get good from them.
On the other hand, the experimel
stations are sometimes at fault in est
mating their obligations to the farm
ers. by whose will and for whose al
vantage they have their existence,
secondary to their obligation to pul
science and scientific men. That the
can and ought to make contribution
science is not to be denied. But u
lines of investigation that they purs'
and the form in which the results
their investigations are publish'
should be determined by the needs
the farmers in their section. The bu
letip issued should be written in
popular and interesting style. al
should be eminently practical in the
treatment of the subject Furthermol
they should not consist generally
statistical tables, etc, which are ha
reading. They should state and int
pret results in the most simple, Gle
and popular style possible. In order
do this the men engaged in this wo
should come frequently and intimate
in touch with the people for whit
they work and understand the mann
of thought and the problems that M
them.
When the people expect only what
legitimate from the station, and the S
ton realizes its relation to the peor
we may expect the best results for
riculture.-B. M. Drake, in Southt
Cultivator.
Doruc TN TUE cApDEN.