AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 599 



intelligent farmer who is opposed to experiment stations, or who would 

 have tbem limited in their operations to the analysis of fertilizers. 

 There is a general if not always intelligent demand for scientific ex- 

 periments on plant and animal production, and we may venture to pre- 

 dict that in future such investigations will form a more important 

 part of the work of our experiment stations than has hitherto been 

 the case. 



It is not proposed in this article to consider the propriety of the 

 founding of experiment stations on the part of the State. That the 

 general welfare is sufficiently promoted thereby to justify the expense 

 appears evident to the writer, but tbe question has been practically 

 decided in so many States that any discussion of it at this late day 

 would be quite superfluous. It seems almost certain that within a 

 few years a great development of the business of agricultural experi- 

 mentation in this country will take place. What the nature of this 

 development shall be and how it can be guided to the best results are 

 questions alike interesting to the agriculturist, who hopes for per- 

 sonal advantage from it, and the statesman, who desires the prosperity 

 of this most important branch of industry. Nor is it material bene- 

 fits alone that may be anticipated from a wise treatment of this ques- 

 tion. The educational influence of such a center of information and 

 research as a good station should be, the influence which it would 

 have on the intelligence and methods of thought of its constituents, 

 is not easily overestimated. 



What, then, should an experimental station be ? How should it 

 be organized, and by whom conducted ? What should the public ex- 

 pect from it in return for its support? By what standard judge 

 whether it is fulfilling the purpose of its existence ? 



Three courses are open, any one or all of which an experiment sta- 

 tion may pursue : 



First, it may undertake police duties, and devote its energies to 

 the prevention or detection of fraud in fertilizers, fodders, seeds, foods, 

 etc. This species of work has of necessity occupied the larger share 

 of the attention of the American stations thus far, and, unless other 

 means are provided for its performance, must continue to form an 

 important part of their duties until human nature becomes other than 

 it is. 



A second and broader field of activity, and one whose importance, 

 we venture to think, will be more and more appreciated from year to 

 year, provided it is wisely cultivated, consists in applying what is now 

 known of agricultural science to the conditions prevailing where the 

 station is located. Such work, for example, would be a physical and 

 chemical study of the different varieties of soil in the State with re- 

 gard to the kinds of fertilizers best adapted to them, the most appro- 

 priate methods of tillage, the most suitable crops, etc. in short, an 

 agricultural survey of the State, the benefits of which would doubt- 



