Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-01-14
(From The New Earth, by w. S.
Harwood)

In considering the great work
OF the Experiment Stations, it
should be borne in mind that they
are the property of the people, in
a peculiarly close and intimate
sense. While they are under the
Immediate control Of scientific
men, and articulate in certain
sense with the national govern
men, they are pre-eminently pop
ular III character, While no ele-
ment OF paternaIism enters into
their administration, they yet
come into close relations with
those who gam their living from
the soil IN directing and aiding
them IN their work. The Keynote,
II | may so use the figure, Of the
Experiment Stations, is absolute
mselfishness. They carry on eX-
Iperiments and achieve results that
would bring not only fame, but
a large measure Of profit to those
who have the work in charge il
they should seek their own ends.
1t the men who carry on this work
of the stations should devote them
selves to the mere acquiring Of
wealth, they would make more
money IN year than they can
make in a lifetime on the slender
salary given them; for out of their
discoveries grow, sometimes, vast
sums OF money saved to the state
indirectly, large amounts brought
to the people directly. SO, mself-
ishness is the keynote Like all UNI
selfish work, it is successful in the
highest sense.
there are sixty stations, one in
each state and territory, and in
several states two, one in Alaska,
one i'll Hawaii. They are organized
under what IS known as the Hatch
Bill, a measure which became a
law III 1887. Work had been car
rled on for several years previous
to this i'll similar lines, in some of
the states. The national recogni-
ton carried with it an appropriate
ton of fifteen thousand dollars Il
year for each station for maintc-
nance. This amount some of the
various states quickly began sup
plementing, as the importance Of
the stations III their bearing upon
agriculture became apparent.
Lands and buildings were, i'll many
instances, allotted by the states
for furtherance Of the work. The
annual amount appropriated by
the national and state govern
ments is one million, five hundred
thousand dollars, equivalent to
only about fifty cents per inhab-
liant per year. The return on the
investment, to put it merely upon
utilitarian grounds, is quite be-
yond all ordinary percentages, 50
Enormously are the stations adding
to the wealth Of the states. In a
single decade, the North Dakota
station, for example, is adding a
! hundred millions of dollars to the
wealth of that state alone, ten
millions of dollars per year, large
| ly by reason Of the experimental
work of the station in the devel-
opment Of cereals. And this is but
an illustration.
Ususally the states are affiliated
with the state universities or agri-
cultural colleges, and very largely
the station stuffs are made up
from the college faculties. / do not
know that | can, in any way, pre-
sent a clearer view Of the scope
of the stations, than by giving the
outline Of their prospective work
under the act establishing them,
though the needs of the various
states along particular lines fire.
Iquently call for independent in
yestigations III directions not in
Guided in the initial provisions Of
the government The duties Of the
stations are prescribed as follows :
ITO conduct original research
or verify experiments on the ply
siology Of plants and animals; the
diseases to which they are sever
ally subject, with the remedies for
the same; the che nical compost
ton of useful plants at their diff
ferent stages Of growth the com
paratiye advantages Of rotative
cropping as pursued under a vary
ing series of crops; the capacity
Of new plants for acclimatization +;
the analysis Of soils and water
the chemical composition of ma
nures, natural or artificial, with
experiments designed to test their
comparative effects on crops Of
different kinds; the adaptation
and value of grasses and forage
| n ante. tho oonno,i+ lion apJ Iiuoc