The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-24
EXPERIMENT
STATION ! work |||k'
Many States Show Increased cas- cd II In
tcrest by Larger Appro-
priatioi:lls..
THE: Virginia ~ ''|' STATION 81
An Awakened Concern Among
the Farmers for Scicii-
tific Truth.
Virginia STATION \

\ The increasing interest In Experiment
station work is shown by the liberal np-i
nropria lions made In many States for
their maintenance. " III 3g5 2l &, s .f
Probably most pooplo are familiar with
a tho fact that stations were originally
organized Under tho Hatch Act, which
provides that SIS, 0oo.o 90 n year Of Federal
money shall be given to each state main
tanning u station. This money is TO pc
expended for original investigntlon rela--
tive to problems which confront the far
Bmers OF that Immediate section, and not
for tho purpose OF disseminating general
Information or promoting the Individual
interests OF some Individual or corpora
stion who has an axe to grind. 1t is fur-
thermore stated tho organic law OF
tho stations. that the funds pro vided SHAH
rot he used, except In very limited
amounts, for the erection Of buildings
or the purchase OF land. It being expected
that tho equipment needed by the sta.
ton and the funds for its future growth
and development would BIO supplied by
the States accepting the Federal fund.
"A The Virginia station has$had q long
and honorable career. but up to thu pres
ent time It has never received any, direct
support from the State; and this fact
should be carefully noted. When It Is
considered that tho station Is supposed
4 to carry on Investigations relative to
practically every interest Of the farmers
& of Virginia, 1t Is not surprising that
tho sum OF SIS, 10000, which 1t has hith-.
erto received, should prove totally In
adequate for tho tasks set before 1t. The
station Is supposed to employ the most
reliable and SUCCESSFUL scientists In the
\ field or general agriculture, animal hus-l
bandry. dairying, botany, biology, horti-
Z culture. entomology. veterinary science
z and field experiments. III Clerical services
must also be available In order that the
thousands OF letters annually received
may be properly answered, and tho bull
letins giving the results OF investlgn-
lions, distributed. II Is not surprising,
4 therefore, In Wow OF the expert services
which the station Is supposed to have
that from $4,000 to 50. 00o.0O OF It's funds
should annually be spent for salaries.
while even then the mon employed do
K not rec iye very liberal remuneration for.
their services. With 10000 spent for
labor and 10000 for publications. and
the necessary postage. freight and OK
press, heat. light. power and water,
chemical supplies, seeds. fertilizers, food
stuffs. etc. the 100000 is gone and very
little apparently left with which to nc-
compish work OF scientific value and con-!
duct original Investigations. A better UNI
Outstanding Of these matters would prob
ably result In something more than adj
verse criticism. t;iif
EXPERIMENTAL WORK.
%5 In view OF the general interest that
seems to have been -awcakcned IN the
work OF tho Virginia Experiment sta
Y ton It seems appropriate that some
statement with reference to the vari-
GUS lines OF work In progress which have
definite bearing on the agricultural
economies OF the State. should be pre-
sented for the consideration OF Virginia
farmers, since this the only institution,
lin the State where original research is
in progress for tho benefit Of agriculture
Although that is the interest In which
by far the larger part OF our people are
& engaged, and In which property Is In
vested, It does not seem reasonable to
suppose thntsif the farmers OF the State
are Informed as to- the value OF the
work now in progress and the benefits
to be derived from what has been nc-5
+ complished. that they would hesitate to
demand tina the station receive adequate
State support In the future. 2
Tho claim Is frequently made that the
work OF tho Experiment Station and the
bulletins issued thercfron are beyond