The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-19
PLAN MENACE
SAYS WALDRON
CONTINUED from page one.)

beginning of modern agricultural
science can be placed at the time Of
the discoveries of Liebig, in 1870. 1t
was through his work that the method
by which plants receive their food
from the soil was first known. Since
that time numberless discoveries have
been made in the various sciences
closely related to agriculture. These
are in the fields of animal and plant
nutrition, soil fertility, soil bacteriol-
ogy, plant and animal diseases and
plant and animal breeding. In addition
to this the mechanical sciences have
given us all of the different lines Of
modern agricultural machinery.
Because of the different scientific
discoveries and applications it is pos
sible to produce in far greater measure
now than formerly, and while the
profits are not all that might be de-
sired, still they are much greater than
they have been in previous times. The
general effect of farming without any
application of scientific principles is
shown in the fact that vast regions
once fertile have become so impover-
ished as to be little better than des-
erts. 1t is largely on this account
that more than half Of the food sup
ply of civilized man at the present
time comes from land that has been
cultivated for less than 100 years;
while most of the corn and wheat,
and other small grains in North and
South America, are grown on lands
that have been titled for less than
fifty years. .... ..~ .
THE effect of the application Of
science to agriculture is very mark
ed in Germany-especIaiIy at the
present time. Her ability to make
the wonderful showing that she has
In the present war is due as much to
her scientific agriculture. as to- her
we'll trained armies.
Centers Here in Colleges.
an this country the center of scien-
tific agricultural research and extern
sion is in the agricultural colleges.
which date back sixty years. Because
of the great work which they have ac-
complished, they are now accepted as
O necessary element in agricultural de-
velopment.
am order that they shall accomplish
the greatest good, they must not only
train farmers, but must develop the
great field of agricultural science. This
can only be done as the different lines
of pure science, such as schemistry,
botany, zoology. geology and physics
are given their proper place.
1.-THE scientific problems in agricul-
ture can be worked out only by those
having a thorough training in the gen.
eraI science related to these particular
problems. For that reason, any move
toward reducing the pure science
taught at an agricultural college Is q
grave mistake, not only because it will
cripple the institution, but chiefly be-
cause it will seriously affect agricul-
ture itself. saw
Should Teach Engineering.
''The intimate relationship between
agriculture and engineering, which is
becoming more marked each year,
makes it natural and important that
and mechanic arts be made
a. prominent feature in agricultural
college work.
"The recent move toward reducing
the sciences and engineering in the
North Dakota Agricultural college to
service courses for agriculture is a
menace and should not be tolerated by
the people of the state. Such action
would result in greatly reduced at
efflcient work for the cause of agricul-
ture. For this reason it is hoped and
that the program now pro-
posed will be emphatically turned
down."
There are two great principles in
volved in creating a college, and these
are, first, making the conditions such
as to attract large student body and
construct the courses So that
the graduates will be credit to
and benefit to society.
THE friends OF agricultural educa-
ton, using that term in its broadest
sense, should not tolerate any inter-