456 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



weighed 70.33 ounces, or nearly as 100 to 230. The difference would be a little 

 less if we allow for the broken i)lants and decayed pods on the old stock. One 

 plant of the old and one plant of the crossed stock died early and produced no 

 fruit, 



COMPARATIVE "WEIGHT. 



Six lots of 50 beans early, were taken at random from the old stock and 

 weighed as follows : 50 seeds, 281 grains; 50 seeds, 2C2 grains; 50 seeds, 270 

 grains ; 50 seeds, 260 grains ; 50 seeds, 259 grains ; 50 seeds, 284 grains ; 

 total, 1,G1G grains; average, 2G9f grains. 



The same number of seeds were taken from the crossed stock and weighed 

 as follows: 50 seeds, 220 grains; 50 seeds, 219 grains; 50 seeds, 200 grains ; 

 50 seeds, 210 grains; 50 seeds, 210 grains; 50 seeds, 220 grains; total, 1,279; 

 averasre, 213 1-C. 



The weight of an equal number of beans from each stock were nearly as 100 

 to 79 in favor of the old stock. 



CONCLUSION. 



All of these need to be repeated for years and the same thing tried on all of 

 our fruits and grains, and vegetables. It is no ways likely that the results will 

 always be alike favorable. But I appeal to you if the results as shown in the 

 experiments with corn and especially with beans, do not look as though this 

 was worth a fair trial. I hope you will try this carefully the coming summer, 

 on some one thing and save the seed for next year. If the results are not 

 favorable, do not blame me, for I only give you the details and results of a few 

 experiments after a trial of only two years. 



People are impatient for Immediate results. If they make an experiment 

 before breakfast they can hardly wait till night to know how it is coming out. 

 The results of most experiments in agriculture cannot be reached with cer- 

 tainty witiiout a long series of experiments extending often through ten or 

 twenty years or more. The reason why it takes so long may be easily seen by 

 observing the following words from Johnson's *' IIow Crops Feed :" "A mul- 

 titude of observations has demonstrated that from 95 to 99 per cent, of the 

 entire mass (weight) of agricultural plants is derived directly or indirectly 

 from the atmosphere." So much depends on the degrees and variations of 

 moisture and heat and light, which are, at most, beyond our control; so little 

 is furnished by the soil, that it leaves a large element of uncertainty as to the 

 results after applying any fertilizer or adopting any particular mode of culti- 

 vation. Seasons vary. No two are alike. Heat, frost, sunshine, dew and 

 rain are beyond our control. Soils and climates are unlike, so we have abroad 

 field open for experiment and valuable results must come slowly. 



Ex2)eriinents of any great extent usually cost a person more time and money 

 than he ever gains in return. If a favorable result is reached, the whole 

 country is benefited. A person in attempting to improve any species of ani- 

 mal or plant feels that he is engaged in a great and noble business. He is a 

 philanthropist, a benefactor of his race, and his works belongs on a higher 

 plane than the work of a man who merely buys and sells, or who sows, culti- 

 vates and reaps just to make money. 



DISCUSSION. 



Dr. Miles said that he had experimented with Clawson wheat Avhile at the 

 College, and by selecting year after year he had obtained great vigor. He had 

 wheat heads seven inches in length. 



