Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-13
A USEFUL CAREER.
CTrom the Montpelier Journal.

The Yearbook of the United States de-
partment OF agriculture. recently Issued,
contains for its frontispiece a portrait Of
Seaman Asahel Knapp. and the first arti-
Gle in the book. following Secretary Will
sons annual report Is sketch of the life
OF this man who was identified with the
educational life of Vermont about 30 years
ago. His career Is interesting, not only
for the reason Of his work In this State.
but also because It shows the possibilities
Of usefulness in the development Of agri-
cultural progress.
Born in Essex county. N. Y. he studied
at Troy Conference Seminary. then To-
Gated at Fort Edward. y. Y. and in 1856
he was graduated from Schenectady. n.
Y. His first work was as professor and
assistant president Of Troy Conference
Academy but later he was associated in
the management OF Ripley Female Col.
lege, at Poultney, VI
on account Of poor health he was
obliged to seek another climate. and In
1866 he removed to Benton county. Iowa.
and bought a farm. In 1869 he was made
superintendent of the State College for
| the Blind at Ninton. Iowa In 1874 he re-
turned to farming. making n specially Of
Berkshire hogs and Shorthorn cattle.
Late in the seventies he began at Cedar
Rapids. Iowa. the publication of the
Western Stock Journal and Farmer and
in this paper he pointed out the import
ance Of producing more stock and the
necessity of getting away from the one
crop idea. About this time he became ac-
| auainted with James Wilson. now secrs-
| tory Of agriculture
In 1879 Or. Knapp was elected profess
| sor Of agriculture at the Iowa State Agri-
cultural College, located at Ames, Iowa.
and in 1854 he was elected Its president
While he was president the first real
course in agriculture was established. In
1886 he resigned TO accept a position with
n corporation engaged In the agricultural
development of southwestern Louisiana,
the region then being largely a c&erle
range. Through his efforts thousands Of
families migrated from the Central West
to the new lands. DR.. Knapp devoted
much attention TO rice growing extending
his work into Texas and adjacent States
He was engaged In this work. and in
holding farmers institutes and writing
for agricultural papers for about u years.
Improved varieties Of rice being needed
Secretary Wilson sent him to Japan,
China and the Philippines as an agricul-
tural explorer and he was able to intro
duce Japanese rice and a number of i'm
provements in growing the crop. which
have proved very beneficial For num-
Der Of years he was president OF the Rice
Growers association of America In 1901
Secretary Wilson sent him to the Orient
and in 1902 he was sent to Porto Rico to
make a special report on the agricultural
resources Of the island
About 1902 he began the work OF bring
ing about greater diversif1cation in South.
ern crops. and as a result of this EFFORT
several demonstra ton farms were estab-
lished. In 1903 the Mexica cotton boil
weevil threatened the destruction Of the
cotton industry. and with Secretary Will
son and the chief At the bureau of plant
industry he canvassed the situation. and
an appropriation was secured from Con.
gress to check the ravages of the pest
II was decided to inaugurate Corpora
tive demonstration work to show farmers
that cotton could he grown IN spite of the
presence OF the weevil and DR.. Knapp
was placed in charge of the work which
has been OF great benefit to the cottor
growers of the South. In this work ht
continued until his death. in April. 1911.
This career was far moro useful thar
that OF many man who has acquired
greater fame In politics or military ser
Vice There Is no better opening fol
: young men desiring useful careers thar
= in some branch OF agricultural work ant
the demand y great at the present time.
: DR.. Knapp was Nc years old when NJ
began his agricultural teaching, b3 wnei
: he began his development work IN TN
South, 65 when he made his nrst TIL
J abroad as an agricultural explorer ana
when he began his great work with IN
Q cotton growers. all OF which shows ina
Z men do not always begin their best worl
In early life