Nio. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 9 



practical butcher is looking when he enters the stockyard to buy a 

 bunch of steers. 



The judge that will give satisfaction is the one whose qualifications 

 relate to his own particular line and who does not profess to be 

 able to do all things equally well. It is safer to secure a less num-- 

 ber of judges for each class of exhibits and to exercise care in their 

 selection, so that each one may be working along a line that is 

 familiar to him and in which he is not likely to go wrong. It pays 

 to have competent judges, although expenses may thereby be 

 increased, for the fair that is noted for having competent, intelli- 

 gent and impartial judges always attracts the attention of the best 

 exhibitors. 



It is gratifying to note that the single judge system is being 

 adopted by the larger fair associations all over the country. One 

 man who knows his business will, as a rule, do better work and 

 give better satisfaction than the three, who, under the old order of 

 things, were often carelessly selected, no regard being had for their 

 knowledge of the class of exhibits upon which they were to pass. 



EXPERIMENTATIONS. 



It is gratifying to note the recognition that is everywhere given to 

 the value and importance of science applied to agriculture. The 

 farmer, however, will never be able by his own individual effort to 

 solve the intricate problems confronting him at almost every turn. 

 A few individual farmers may, by intelligent experiments, carefully 

 conducted, secure results which lead to conclusions of great general 

 value. Many such experiments have come under the notice of the 

 Secretary. But however creditable and important such experiments 

 have been, the results secured were, at best, disconnected and frag- 

 mentary and only available for local application. 



It must be conceded that investigations for the benefit of agricul- 

 ture, whether carried on by experiment or otherwise, should be con- 

 ducted by scientific men who have had the advantage of special 

 training in their respective lines of research. 



In recognition of this truth our experiment stations have been 

 established and their work is carried on under the direction of the 

 General Government. In addition to the provisions made by the Con- 

 gress of the United States for this experimental work, some of the 

 states of the Union annually make large appropriation for the sup- 

 port of their experiment stations. The wisdom of this policy is appar- 

 ent, when we remember that the welfare of the general public, as 

 well as the success of all other industries are dependent upon agri- 

 culture. 



It is to be regretted that Pennsylvania has not come up to the full 

 measure of her true interest in relation to this important work in 

 the past, but at the same time it is gratifying to note the change 

 of sentiment that is taking place upon this subject, as is indicated 

 by the fact that the last Legislature took the matter up and made 

 the first appropriation ever made to our local experiment station, 

 by the State, and it is to be hoped that this new policy will be pur- 

 sued until the Pennsjivania Station stands where it should, occupv- 

 ing a place at the very head of the list. No money expended by the 

 State can be more certain to produce satisfactory returns than that 



9 



