CONDITIONS OF SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENTING. 311 



Experimenting-, and of Progress in Agricultural Science," — is too 

 comprehensive a subject to be brought within the limits of a single 

 hour's familiar talk. In the quiet of one's study, it might be 

 possible to collate and arrange all the facts bearing upon this sub- 

 ject, and to bring out the principles involved in the question ; but 

 it is impossible in a single hour of familiar talk to present this 

 whole subject in an exhaustive manner. Therefore I shall confine 

 my remarks to the first portion of the subject, and now invite 

 your attention to some of the conditions of successful experi- 

 menting. 



This subject has been repeatedly brought before the Board. I 

 would refer particularly to the labors of a gentleman who is now a 

 member of the Board, — Mr. Chamberlain of Foxcroft. It has been 

 very ably treated by him, and by others also, and much that I 

 have to say to-day is but a repetition and amplification of what 

 has been already and ably said. 



The subject is a very important one, and I think you realize its 

 importance. The present proud position of agriculture is almost 

 wholly due to successful experiments in collateral sciences and in 

 agriculture itself. I think this must be admitted by every farmer. 

 I say "experiments in collateral sciences *and in agriculture." 

 By " collateral sciences " I mean botany, zoology, and chemistry ; 

 particularl}^ that department of botany bearing upon the physiol- 

 ogy of plants, those departments of zoology bearing upon the 

 physiology and classification of animals, and those departments of 

 chemistry relating to the analysis of soils and of crops. Ameri- 

 can agriculture has followed very closely in the footsteps of Euro- 

 pean agriculture. It has been merely necessary for Americans to 

 modify European agi'iculture to meet wants existing here — differ- 

 ent climatic conditions, and then the great want of all, the want 

 of labor. This last has been met by labor-saving appliances. 

 Whatever has governed the progress of agriculture abroad has 

 governed it in this country. Whatever afiects the progress of 

 agriculture abroad affects it in this country. 



Now, who are the experimenters abroad, and who are the ex- 

 perimenters in this country ? I shall confine myself now to brief 

 allusion to some of those who are to-day experimenting in this 

 country, as introductory to the question of experiments in general. 

 Let us see who are experimenting in the collateral sciences. In 

 Botany, we have Professor Meehan of Philadelphia, editor of "The 

 Gardener's Monthly" — a gentleman who has devoted much time 



