260 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sweets needed in the United States; and a larger per cent would make us large 

 exporters of this great and profitable commodity. Certain difficulties have 

 heretofore prevented the manufacture of sugar from sorghum becoming remun- 

 erative, and has deterred many from engaging in its cultivation ; thus depriv- 

 ing us of a most profitable industry which would add millions of dollars to our 

 national and individual wealth and diversify production, and thus prevent the 

 over production of the cereals and consequent low prices. Here comes in the 

 necessity for careful, scientific, and extended experiments, which can only be 

 consummated by adopting the remedy suggested in the title of this essay, viz.. 

 Experimental Stations. The most active and enterprising of the States are 

 taking the initiative. In reading the address of the Master of the National 

 Grange, the Hon. J. J. Woodman, I see that eight States are reported as hav- 

 ing experimental stations, four of which, 1 am proud to say, have been estab- 

 lished through the influence of the Grange, and I quote from it. He says, 

 ''The question of establishing these stations in several other States is now being 

 agitated by patrons, and all reliable information in relation to their manage- 

 ment, and the results obtained, should be collected and disseminated as widely 

 as possible." 



While writing this essay my attention was called to an article in the Michigan 

 Farmer by Prof. Failyure, from which I learned that the first experimental 

 station proper was organized in Germany in the year 1851, and from the 

 establishment of this station dates a new era in the agriculture of Europe. 

 The knowledge of chemistry being so essential to progress in agriculture has 

 placed tliiese stations largely under the control of eminent chemists. The 

 importance of these stations has been so evident, and the results obtained so 

 satisfactory, that in the short period of 33 years there have been established no 

 less than 85 in Germany alone. Other European countries, keenly alive to 

 their interests, and appreciating the advantages to be derived from thoughtful, 

 painstaking experimentation, have established fifty more. They are under 

 the control of the government, and depend on the government for support. 

 Besides, many private enterprises in this direction have been undertaken, 

 through which extensive and valuable contributions to our scientific knowledge 

 of the operations of agriculture have been obtained. Their operations have so 

 far been confined to: 1st, an examination of the quality of seeds and the 

 control of their sale ; 2nd, the analysis of commercial fertilizers offered for 

 sale; 3rd, experiments in feeding and with dairy products; 4th, investigation 

 of soils ; oth, experiments with various fertilizei's ; 6th, the cultivation and 

 improvement of the various crops of the field, orchard, and garden ; and their 

 investigations in these directions have led them into almost every feature of 

 agriculture. Notwithstanding the favor with which these stations have been 

 viewed by European governments, our own national and state governments 

 have been slow to engage in them. It would seem that enlightened states- 

 manship would have early recognized the importance of improvements in 

 agriculture to a people so largely dependent upon it for their welfare. I can 

 only account for this by the fact that as agriculturists we have not had our 

 proportion of representatives in congress or our State legislatures, and as a 

 consequence our interests have not received the considei'ation their importance 

 demands. They have been neglected and crowded into the background by other 

 interests more largely and better represented, which have had more persistent, 

 clamorous, and active advocates, and if we ever get the recognition we deserve 

 farmers' institutes, farmers' clubs, farmers' organizations of whatever name 



