12 REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 



worn land of the Northern, Eastern, and. Southern States. The 

 benefit to be derived from them is practically limited only by the out- 

 lay which it is possible to make. The stations and colleges of the sev- 

 eral States are constantly urged to enlarged experimentation, beyond 

 present resources, and often find themselves "striking new leads," 

 which they cannot follow, all for want of means. In nearly all cases 

 there is land enough, and to spare, owned and immediately available. 

 In numerous instances buildings are ample, or in shape to be easily 

 converted to furnish the necessary accommodations for laboratories, 

 stables, storage, and offices. But, as already shown, the current ex- 

 pense of experiment work, comprehensive and thorough, is xery 

 heavy. Cheap labor and appliances will not do. Salaries must be 

 sufficient to command scientific ability of the first order, and tlie 

 workers must be untrammeled by other duties. None of the colleges 

 have the means to keep up their educational facilities and assume 

 new obligations of this extent and character, however well recog- 

 nized the importance of the work. A few of the States can be in- 

 duced to make special provision sufficient for the purpose. Where 

 State stations do exist and colleges have begun such work, it is ap- 

 parent that further provision is necessary for their full development. 

 Hence the very general interest in the bill now before Congress " for 

 the establishment of agricultural experiment stations in connection 

 with the agricultural colleges of the respective States and appro- 

 priating money therefor," and the prevalent opinion of its impor- 

 tance and the desire for its early enactment. No measure is now 

 pending or proposed of greater import or bearing a brighter promise 

 of deep-seated and lasting benefits to the a:gricultural interests of the 

 United States in all their branches. 



This bill is not, however, free from defects, and certain amend- 

 ments may well be recommended here. The amount which it pro- 

 poses to annually appropriate to each State ($15,000) is none too much 

 to establish and maintain one good station. To permit this to be 

 divided and appropriated among different stations or institutions 

 would at once defeat the desired object; and instead of one strong 

 station in every State, two or three worthless starvelings would here 

 and there be found, consuming their whole allowance in the general 

 expenses necessary to every station, with no margin for accomplish- 

 __iug results. Congress should not repeat the mistake which has 

 already been made in one State at least, by which a land grant has 

 been so divided up that no piece can be found big enough to be serv- 

 iceable, or maintain an institution worthy the name of "State Agri- 

 cultural College." But while every State should be required to keep 

 the allowance intact and assign it for expenditure to one and only 

 one place, permission should be granted for every State to determine 

 by its legislature, and once for all, to v^hat iiistitntion the appropri- 

 ation shall be assigned. States having well-established independent 



