36 



same time it bas boon of direct service to many in modlfyinfr motbods of farm 

 practice and of indirex-t bonoHt, not only to tbo farmers in tbe State in wbich 

 tbe station was estal)lisbed, but in many instances in all tbe States of tbe 

 Union. 



Prior to tbe establisbment of tbe stations tbere was no oi^portunity for tbe 

 farmers to see bow science migbt be applied to practice, and tbe .urcat prof,'ress 

 tbat bas been made in farminfj. ])arricularly in tbe use of conunercial fertilizers, 

 tbe savin.i; of farm manures, tbe improvement of croi» rotations, tbe feeding of 

 cattle for niilk and beef, tbe improvement of pure l)reeds of animals, tbe intro- 

 duction of new and better varieties of cereal and forage plants, tbe manufac- 

 ture of dairy products, and tbe adopti(»n of business metbods, bave been due to 

 tbe work of tbe experiment stations in demonstrating by analysis and control 

 experiments tbe economies tbat may bo derived from tbe application of sucb 

 .science. Tbe station's intluence. tberefore. bas been tbus far ratber educa- 

 tional tban investigational, tliougb, as already ])ointed out, tbe former must 

 necessarily precede tbe latter, and wben tbe colleges sball bave attained to tbeir 

 full iuHuence tbe necessity for tbe educational side of experiment-station work 

 will bave largely disappeared. 



In otber words, tbe stations bave passed tbrougb tbe various stages tbi'ougb 

 wbicb all new institutions nuist pass before reacbing tbat degree of stability 

 wbicb will enable tbem to broaden tbeir work, and, from tbe farmer's point of 

 view, take up tbat wbicb may seem to be of little immediate practical service. 

 Many stations are now conducting original researcbes of a very important 

 cbar'acter. and of tbe greatest promise in tbe ultimate usefulness of tbe data 

 obtained, and at no time in tbe bistory of tbe stations bas tbere been a greater 

 need fcjr bigbly-trained men of tbe cbaracter above described. It is tbe mani- 

 fest duty of tins association, as representing botb tbe colleges and tbe stations, 

 to see to it tbat provision is made for tbe specific training of investigators ; for, 

 all tbings considered, our progress bas been measured and its limits fixed by tbe 

 men available, ratber tban by material equipment. 



- But wben we compare tbe progress tbat bas been made in tbe acquiring of 

 new facts tbrougb original researcb, we find tbat we bave not progressed very 

 far. In tbe domain of cbemistry tbe cbief progress bas been in tbe perfecting 

 of metbods of analysis and in tbe application of tbe facts already well known, 

 ratber tban in tbe establisbing of principles of fundamental importance. Tbe 

 same is largely true of tbe otber sciences related to agriculture. Sucb now 

 facts as bave been gained bave not contributed materially to tbe development 

 of tbat particular science. Mucb bas been learned of ways and means in 

 tbemselves of great service, to be sure, yet tbese were bardly the result of deep 

 scientibc researcb. 



Tbe stations are confronted to-day, tbougb perhaps in a less degree, with the 

 same conditions that confronted tbem in tbeir establisbment in 1887, in refer- 

 ence to many problems, the solution of wbich is of the highest economic value. 

 We daily witness large areas of our soils lying idle and unproductive because 

 we do not know what to do \^'ith tbem. ^Ye are powerless to prevent losses of 

 fertility from our soils because tbe causes of loss and means of prevention are 

 unknown. We appreciate tbe importance of providing the crops with tbe right 

 kinds and proportions of plant food, and yet see money and energy wasted 

 because we are unable to give advice that shall be of service in conserving 

 and making available tbe essential constituents. The farmers are subjected 

 annually to stupendous losses of live stock because we can not correctly diag- 

 nose disease and suggest methods of prevention or provide a positive remedy. 

 The depredations of pernicious insects and plant diseases still cause the farmers 

 to groan in spirit, because suggested remedies are in many cases ineffective. 

 I cite tbese facts, not in a spirit of criticism, nor for our discouragement, but 

 rather tbat we may l)e incited to greater activity in providing for and promoting 

 those linos of work wbicb sball broaden tbe foundations upon wbicb tbe science 

 of agriculture rests. We are engaged in a great work, the importance of wbich 

 in all its relations it is impossible to adeciuately express in words. It remains 

 for us who have' been so signally honored as to be thought worthy to partici- 

 pate in it to live up to tbe high ideals set for us in tbe beginning, tbe pursuit 

 of which has I'esulted in broadening tbe influence and increasing the helpful- 

 ness of the institutions represented in this association. 



At 10 o'clock p. m. the convention adjourned to meet at O.oO o'clock a. m., 

 November 15, 1905. 



