No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 35 



plants, but also in conserving the moisture in the soil for the use of 

 crops instead of allowing it to evaporate and be lost. 



The great question for the agricultural people in Pennsylvania to 

 solve, is that of discovering how to secure abundance of good fertili- 

 zers cheap. The first duty is to carefully husband and utilize that 

 which every farm yard contains; grow leguminous plants, cultivate 

 the soil and then test the land with phosphoric acid, potash and nitro- 

 gen, applied separatel}', and note their effects upon the subsequent 

 crops. 



SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS. 



The law creating the Department of Agriculture provides for 

 ''Special Investigations" to be conducted under the direction of the 

 Secretary, The remarkable progress which agriculture has made 

 in the past few years has been largely due to the work of investiga- 

 tion conducted by State Experiment Stations, and the Department of 

 Agriculture in the several States and at Washington. 



Trained scientists in these institutions have been directing their 

 attention and skill to the solution of problems in agriculture with the 

 result of gradually elevating the calling into one of the learned pro- 

 fessions. Science has indeed taken the hand of practice and is lead- 

 ing agriculture from the realm of empyricism into that of well estab- 

 lished principles whose laws are as well defined and as certain in their 

 action, as any others which control in the natural world. In many 

 cases, scientific investigation upon a single subject must be continued 

 for several years before any authoritive declaration can be made. 

 Results must be tested and confirmed year after year befon? it is safe 

 to announce them as well established facts. This Department has 

 been engaged in this character of work for several years. Last year 

 there were twelve distinct subjects undergoing examination, and this 

 year seven : 



Investigation into the habits of the Hessian Fly, under the various 

 conditions of climate, soil and location in this State. 



Investigation into the habits, life and adaptability of the Honey 

 Bee to Pennsylvania conditions. 



Investigation into the best methods of feeding steers for market. 



Investigation into the best practice in the shoeing of horses. 



Investigation into the character of the condensed milk industry. 



