72 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



to pay for the labor of students in performing the various 

 operations in the gardens and plant-houses, and so would do 

 double service in the cause of education. The money thus 

 expended would enable indigent students to earn something 

 toward their support, would encourage habits of industry and 

 self-reliance, and render it possible to keep the grounds and 

 buildings in good condition without any draft upon the 

 general treasury. Begun in the manner suggested, and car- 

 ri(!d forward wisely for a few years under an enthusiastic, 

 intelligent and indefatigable director, the entire project would 

 so commend itself to the public that abundant means would 

 be furnished for needed improvements, while the annual 

 income from sales would steadily increase with the increase of 

 stock and reputation. 



Many other subjects, which might legitimately be con- 

 sidered in this discussion, did time allow, must be entirely 

 omitted, or receive but a joassing notice. For instance, the 

 great pecuniary value of even the slightest real advance in 

 agriculture or horticulture, in consequence of the enormous 

 aggregate value of their products, is worthy of notice. Thus 

 an increase of only* one per cent, in the wheat crop of 

 the United States would amount to 2,877,456 bushels. 

 There can be no question that in many ways this might be 

 l)rought about. The use of the best variety of seed often 

 does much more than this in all crojis. Hence the importance 

 of experimental grounds for testing varieties of plants and 

 modes of culture. 



Again, the introduction of new fruits or crops often results 

 in untold good to a country. Thus the sugar-beet in France 

 and Germany has wonderfully improved the whole system of 

 farming, and vastly increased the wealth of these nations. In 

 like manner the fig, the orange and the olive are valuable 

 acquisitions to California. In 1.839, a missionary transported 

 from the splendid garden of the Duke of Devonshire to the 

 Navigator's Islands a single banana plant, which increased 

 rapidly, and now the people are abundantly supplied with this 

 agreeable and most nutritious fruit. We might profitaldy 

 consider the desirableness to the farmer of an acquaintance 

 with the origin and characteristics of the weeds he would 

 exterminate and the crops he would produce ; the importance 



