THE AIMS AND TENDENCIES OF THE GERMAN AGRICUL- 

 TURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



Prof. M. Maercker, Ph. 1)., 



Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Halle, Germany. 



The German agricultural experiment stations have developed from 

 small beginnings as a result of the need which was felt for such insti- 

 tutions. They were not originally established by the State, with large 

 revenues, but were founded with only small means by agricultural soci- 

 eties, which hoped thereby to advance the cause of agriculture in its 

 various phases. 



In Germany we arc indebted for the development of scientific agri- 

 culture to Justus von Liebig, whose teachings early became popular 

 with the practical farmers and found extensive application, although 

 not always with the result anticipated. This instead of discouraging 

 agriculturists stimulated them to make a thorough study of the ques- 

 tions involved and to investigate the conditions under which Liebig's 

 theory of manuring led to disappointing results. 



The large majority of German agriculturists never doubted the cor- 

 rectness of Liebig's mineral theory of plant nutrition, but the many 

 cases of failure gave rise to a demand for some institution which should 

 determine the conditions under which the theory would lead to a cer- 

 tain result. This institution was found in the agricultural experiment 

 stations; and it is an indication of the object of the agricultural ex- 

 periment stations, established by German agriculture, that from the 

 first the solution of everyday practical questions has not been expected 

 of the stations, but rather scientific investigation and demonstration of 

 the principles of agriculture. The very modest means which agri- 

 cultural societies and private persons were able to provide for this 

 purpose did not suffice, and it was not until the State and provincial 

 governments, appreciating the importance of the experiment stations 

 for the development and improvement of agriculture, came to their 

 assistance with the necessary financial support that the stations were 

 able to conduct their work in a satisfactory manner. 



Originally the principal investigations of the experiment stations 

 were on soils and mineral fertilizers. But very soon exact studies on 

 feeding stuffs and animal nutrition were added, which in the fifties and 

 sixties resulted in very important contributions to the subject. 



It mast be admitted that some of the expectations of practical agri- 

 culturists could not be immediately realized by the experiment stations, 



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