266 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



somewhat different. In a house of that sort, we can carry- 

 on experiments in the comparison of fertilizers, as to their 

 feeding power for vegetation ; we can compare different soils 

 as to their power of supporting crops ; we can carry on multi- 

 plied and valuable observations under conditions very much 

 under our own control, free from vicissitudes of weather, free 

 from the accidents which insects or birds or boys may occa- 

 sion, and acquire a vast deal of knowledge in that way in the 

 course of a few years. To do that we want this plant house, 

 a;nd we want assistants competent to look after the^work, and 

 the results of a plant of that kind, properly carried out, will 

 be very large for the outlay. 



Then there is the question of feeding. There are certain 

 problems in feeding which can be studied with the help of a 

 couple of cows, or a couple of sheep, or a couple of goats, and 

 a little stable where they can .be put, with scales to weigh 

 them upon, suitably arranged for supplying them with regular 

 rations, and with a place where the rations can be stored. 

 We can carry on valuable experiments in that way. The 

 most of what is now known with regard to the feeding of cat- 

 tle, horses, and other domestic animals, that is, carried on 

 scientifically, so far as it is in advance of what has long been 

 known as the result of ordinary practice, has been learned in 

 just this way in the ten, fifteen, or perhaps now twenty Ex- 

 periment Stations in Germany, in which experiments are car- 

 ried on upon this plan. It is not necessary that we should 

 have a farm.' A farm would be an embarrassment, because 

 the man who knows how to experiment scientifically can not 

 know much of anything else ; if he knows that well, he 

 ought not to attempt to do anything else, and a place adapted 

 specially to tliis purpose wants to be free from any embarrass- 

 ment from outside affairs. We do not need much land for 

 exact experiments on plants. Mr. Lawes, in England, and 

 others, can afford to use a good deal of land and lay out a 

 great deal of money, and valuable results have come from 

 such experiments, but I would not advise that sort of expen- 

 diture in tlie present state of investigation in New England. 



Now, to equip a station in such a way that it can immedi- 



