The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-03-18
WHAT SCIENCE HAS DONE


The other day a farmer in ONO
asked the federal department of agri-
culture what science had done for the
farm He said that many farmers
stin are inclined to spurn the efforts
of the scientist who works laboriously
for many years OH q problem OF some
branch of farming; that there is not
the appreciation there should be
among farmers Of the work OF the de-
partment and the several state insti-
tutions. Edw. b. Reid chief OF the
division of publications, sent reply
of which the following is a part:
"You say that farmers generally do
no; appreciate what science has done
for agriculture, and you illustrate with
instances from your own experience.
Then you suggest that this department
prepare a pamphlet on What Science
Has Done for the Farm
unfortunately. We are not in posi-
ton now to undertake that task. We
have no single publication, it is true,
that covers the subject. But We have
issued more than 1000 farmers bulle'
tins and nearly as many department
bulletins. every one of which treats
of some phase of what science has
done for the farm. Not one of those
bulletins could have been written ex-
cept for the patient, painstaking in
yestigations and experiments of some
scientist. Among those bulletins,
many a one represents the work of
some mans entire life. Others OIL
them combine the results of the efforts
OF many scientists through number
of years.
These facts, as you say. are not ap-
preciated but they are used. The
farmer very frequently does not know
whence came the knowledge that he
uses to put money into his pocket.
Possibly he has never read farmers
bulletn in his life. But some neigh
Dor, perhaps, has read them and util-
lied the information, and this man
who sees nothing good in the work
OF scientists may have grown rich by
emulation OF his neighbor
"And application. not appreciation,
is the chief end that scientists seek.
Scientists, as a rule, do not advertise
themselves. 1t was only little while
ago that no farmer could be sure that
all his hogs would not be dead oil
cholera in day. Now, because of
the scientists, he knows that he can
protect himself against that disaster.
II was not two decades ago that cattle
scabbies was prevalent over nearly
one-half of the United States. Now
il appears only as outbreaks in limited
areas. Much the same is true of
sheep scabies, of glanders, and dourine
in horses. of many other diseases.
Animal tuberculosis is under control.
Contagious abortion of cattle, is begin
ming to y eld to scientific knowledge.
"Some of these scientific discoveries
have been of such far-reaching impor-
tance that not only agriculture but
practically every phase of human life
was benefited. A veterinarian in gov
ernment service discovered that sple
netic fever in cattle was caused by
the presence of a tick. To that mans
account, it has been said. goes the
credit for the successful construction
of the Panama Canal Without his
discovery the canal could never have
been put through. That discovery was
the revelation of the whole field OF
insect causation of disease. II led tC
the revelation of the mosquito as the
bearer of malaria and of yellow fever
Il has saved thousands Of human lives
There are many animal diseases
that the American farmer does no
have to worry about. Rinderpest has
never mac fs appearance here. Foot
andIao:.t die ase has three times en-
tered bu, ...sss as often been driver
back across the ocean.
Results NO less notable have beer
obtained in the plant kingdom. From
time immemorial, black stem rust o
wheat took heavy toll Of the woridi