REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP AQRICULTURE. » 



be provedj I think, by an examination of the detailed reports of its 

 several divisions which follow, and that the information gathered has 

 been diffused over a wide area is fully attested by the enormous de- 

 mand for its published literature and the inquiries for information 

 upon special topics from every section. 



EXPERIMENTAL AGRICULTURE. 



In a new country and upon a virgin soil nature responds so readily 

 to the plainest cultivation that a maximum of muscle and a minimum 

 of brain results in successful farming, but when generation after 

 generation has drawn upon the stored fertility, and agricultural com- 

 munities have to contend not only with well-worn land, but with 

 dear labor and active competition from a distance, the prevailing 

 conditions are far different. Labor-saving inventions are sought, 

 more brain work becomes necessary, every year seems to bring a 

 harder problem, and the modern farmer realizes the number of un- 

 known quantities with which he has to deal and the need of bringing 

 to his aid all the resources of modern science. No other occupation 

 requires such intimate acquaintance with the many and mysterious 

 laws of nature, or is so dependent upon the practical application of 

 the latest and best of research in every branch of natural science. 

 But although there is a general recognition of the value of science 

 applied to agriculture, farmers will never be able to accomplish 

 much by individual effort in solving the problems met with at every 

 turn. In addition to all the recorded experience of the past, new 

 experiments, to determine truths of practical value, are constantly 

 needed. Some individual farmers have conducted experiments so 

 carefully and persistently as to reach conclusions of general value. 

 The work remaining to be done, however, is greater and more im- 

 portant than all that has been accomplished, and requires time and 

 means which cannot possibly be supplied by farmers themselves 

 singly or collectively. And however creditable the results of private 

 effort in agricultural experiments, such labors are usually found 

 fragmentary, disconnected, and only useful for local application. 

 Moreover, so important is a correct plan, absolute accuracy of detail 

 in execution, and unbiased interpretation of the results, that agri- 

 cultural investigation, to be of public service, needs to be scientific- 

 ally conducted by well-trained men. Baron Liebig said : 



When the practical man attempts exact methods he is almost invariably a sufiFerer. 

 He seems to forget that man does not become intuitively acquainted with scientiSc 

 procedure, but that this must be learned, like the skillful use of any complex instru- 

 ment. 



Hence the necessity for new provisions for such experimentation as 

 is required by progressive agriculture and their better organization 

 and maintenance. 



All other industries and the public welfare are so dependent upon 



