The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-01
Test Tube of
Science Brings
Aid TO Farmers
BY GEORGE SANFORD HOLMES

BY GEORGE SANFORD HOLMES
TFHE test-tube today is as essen
Il tial to agriculture as the thresh-
ing machine, the CHEMISTS lab
oratory as important as field labor.
The term farm relief" to many
means something in the form Of a
subsidy or a dole or handout. On
the contrary, the cooperation ac--
corded agriculture by science is
farm relief in the best sense of the
term. 1t helps the farmer to help
himself.
The chemist is the farmers best
friend. DR.. Q. A. Browne, chief Of
the Chemical and archaeological
Research, United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, in a recent
statement, shows that one-flfth of
the chemists listed in American
Men of Science" are engaged in
northumberland work.
Their contribution to the devel-
opment of agriculture and the i'm
provenent of farming conditions
is invaluable. The average farmer
himself, familiar to the general
public as the "nian with the hoe"
little appreciates his own debt to
the man with the microscope.
Day by day ne is eliminating
much of the element Of chance that
proves such a tremendous factor in
tilling the soil. DR.. Browne pictures
the agricultural industry as a far
flung chain of chemical factories,
representing a $50,000,00 1000 invest
ment in this country in which SUM-
light, water and carbon dioXide are
the raw materials.
II
ZACH farm is a chemical fac
H tory. The products are grains,
fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar,
poultry, milk, wool, hides and other
necessities. And because sunlight
is a principal factor, it is pointed
out, no one ever can monopolize it.
Farms and farm property repre-
sent one-flfth Of the nations tangi-
BILE wealth and pay approximately
one-hfth of its taxes. They de-
serve consideration, assuredly, from
the politicians. In the meantime,
the quiet, studious men who work
with patience but no publicity be-
hind laboratory doors are actually
doing something to aid the nations
biggest industry.
A QUESTIONABLE sent out by DR..
Browne to chemists for their opin-
ions as to the twelve most import
ant contributions made by chem
istry to the national welfare result
ed in practical agreement on the
following FIVE: the work leading up
to the passage Of the Federal food
and drug act; the development of
accurate methods for analysis of
agricultural products; accurate
studies of the values of various
foods for specific purposes in main
tanning health and vigor, which
were made possible by the respira-
ton calorimeter studies Of chemical
composition, properties and nutri-
tive values of various crops as
guides to proper feeding and diet;
and the experimental use of lime
to correct the sterility Of acid soils.
More familiar contributions to the
laymen, perhaps, are the following:
tests of fertilizers for farm crops;
studies of vitamines; reclamation
Of alkau soils; development of the
cane and beet sugar industries;
work on utilization Of wastes and
by-produce Of agriculture; investi-
cation and development of insecti-
cides, fungicides and serums, and
Investigations of the chemistry of
soils.
a GRICULTURAL research at
4 "A present is interested in vita
Minis, the prevention of soil erosion,
methods Of converting straw and
waste rapidly into products Of equal
value to barnyard manure, concen-
trated fertilizers which will save
millions now spent for bags and
transportation, and fertilizers to i'm
prove the composition as well as
quantity Of crops.
The farmer may look to the
politician and his ballot box for re-
lief, but in the meantime the chemv
ist and his test tube are on the Job.