114 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



WASHINGTON COUNTY. 



Institute at Robbinston. 



An Institute was held in the town of Robbinston, in the village 

 school house, November loth, at which a good audience of the 

 farmers of that and the surrounding towns was present. A cordial 

 reception and a liberal hospitality were extended to all in attend- 

 ance. 



The meeting was called to order b^' A. R. Lincoln, President of 

 the Boaid, who invited C3-rus Balkam to the chair. After a brief 

 explanation of the proposed work of the day, the subject of the 

 morning was introduced. 



'O 



EXPERIMEXTAL WORK IN AGRICULTURE. 



By Walter Balentinf;, Professor of A<?riculture at the State College 

 of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. 



Experimental work as applied to agriculture, has, in times past, 

 been the derision of a large class of so-called practical farmers. 

 But when we take a glance at the advancement made in practical 

 agriculture within the last thirty- or fort}' j-ears, which is largely due 

 to scientific investigation, I think no candid man will fail to admit 

 that the contempt with which many of our practical farmers have 

 looked upon this work, during its progress, has not been wholly 

 deserved. 



We must, on the other hand, admit that more has often been 

 claimed for the results of this work, by the advocates of scientific 

 research, than has actually been sustained in practice. This was, 

 however, rather a fault in the interpretation of the results than with 

 the results themselves or the methods of obtaining them. 



Let us go over briefly, some of the facts that experimental work 

 has established, which have proved of inestimable value to practical 

 agriculture, and which have become, to a greater or less extent, in- 

 cori)orated with the ordinary practices of farm management, and 

 which, sooner or later, are destined to become the guiding principles 

 of successful farming in all civilized lands. 



How to maintain the fertility of our soils, is a topic in which 

 farmers are always interested, and one of which thev never tire of 



