The San Francisco call., 1906-06-18

BERK ELEY, June 1.-THE labor of
many years on the part of Professor
z. W. Hilgard has eliminated in the
production OF his great volume on
Soils" the final proof sheets of which
were corrected by him today and sent
back to the firm OF New York publish
ers that is TO print the book. The toll
that has gone to the making of the
book is at an end
Professor Hilgard, after a lifetime of
strenuous, exact and highly scientific
work in the interest of the State has
put the final word that he has to say on
the subject Of soil problems into a book
that viii stand for a long time to come
as the supreme authority on the sub
3ect. The climax of his career is found
IN the big volume, and il is with a feel
Ing OF pardonable exaltation that he
leans back at rest as one may who has
earned the right 10 rest. rest made
all the sweeter by the murmur of plaud-
Its that the people Of California give to
the faithful servant who has watched
over their interests for many decades
81 the State University.
The rank which Professor HiIgard's
Immense volume on Soils" may be ex-
peeted TO take in the realm of scien-
tihc literature is easily guessed when
II is recalled that his fame as q soil
analyst and expert is such that a year
ago when the Minister of Russia de-
sired an authoritative word TO be spok-
en- about the condition of the famous
black earth region, a region where the
SOL had steadily deteriorated, frighten-
Ing those who depended upon its rich
bess for their lives-when an analysis
was TO be made of this earth so that
Russia might know and mend the trou-
bic If possible. samples of the earth
came all the way to Berkeley. con-
signed to Professor Hilgard. He was
commissioned before all others by the
Cars ministers to analyze and report
upon the character of this famous black
earth OF the empire.
HAS WON PLAUDITs.
Although prophet may always have
honor save in his own country. Pro-
fessor Hilgard happily has been ac-
corded such consideration as a great
savant deserves even by those whose
nearness to him has made It difficult to
survey his hgure and his work in the
proper perspective. The university de-
lights 10 honor him and has received
with evidences Of satisfaction the news
that Professor Hilgard has been able,
despite the weakness of his eyesi ight
and other difficulties, to bring to a sue
oessful Spish the work Of preparing for
The character of the book, its scope
and the preparation that has enabled
Professor. Hilgard to handle the work
with peculiar forcefulness and 70 speak
with rare authority is revealed in the
preface. significant key TO the mans
lie work. In this preface Professor
Hiigard says:
writer's lot TO be almost continuously
IN more or, less direct contact with
the conditions and requirements Of
newly settled regions as well as with
those hardly yet invaded even by the
pioneer farmer; whore the question of
e1titSEal Sta aeaptation was yet undeter-
snIsng sinssa or b,s wh9illy o9i II the dark Being
upon IN his Official capacity to give
information and advice to pioneer
farmers or intending settlers in re-
gard 10 the merits and adaptation of
virgin soils. the writer's attent ton was
naturally and forcibly directed toward
soll lnVestl cation as possible means
OF determining beforehand the gen
eral prospects and special features of
agriculture in regions where actual ex-
perience was either nonexistent or
very brief and partial.
MUCH MATERIAL AT HAND.
In the pursuit of these studies he
has been favored by exceptional OPP
portunities extending over a varied
eelimatis Srsa reaching on the south
across 20 the Pacific Coast and to Brit,
1sh Columbia on the north That a sys-
tematic investigation of soils over so
large an area covering both humid and
arid regions should lead to some nm
expected and novel results is but nat
urai. 1t Is the discussion of these re-
suits in connection with those obtained
elsewhere, and with some of the pre-
yailing views based thereon, that must
serve as the justification for the pres
ent addition to an already well
stocked branch of literature.
From the very beginning of the sci
entific study of agriculture the inves-
tigation OF soils with a view TO the
priori determination of their adapta-
ton. permanent value and best means
OF cultural improvement has formed
the subject of continuous effort II is
not easy 20 imagine q subject OF high
er direct Importance to the physical
welfare Of mankind, whose very exist
ence depends upon the yearly returns
drawn by cultural labor from the soil.
II is certainly remarkable that after
al this long continued effort even the
fundamental principles. and still more
the methods by which the object in
view is TO be attained, are still so far
IN dispute that unidcation Of opinion
IN this respect is not yet in view, and
return to pure empiricism is from
time TO time brought forward TO cut
the Gordian knot
While this state of things is pri-
marily due to the intrinsic compIeXity
and difficulty Of the subject Itself 1t
has uneuestionably been materially