32 THE BOOK Off WHEAT 



creased in importance, they were assigned to a new bureau 

 or division especially created for their research. The distribu- 

 tion of seeds and plants was begun in 1839. Since that time, 

 over 20 divisions and bureaus have been created. 1 The impor- 

 tance that may be attached to the activities of the department 

 is well illustrated by its work with durum wheat. By securing 

 its introduction and its use in manufacturing macaroni in the 

 United States, the department practically established a new 

 industry, in addition to extending materially the wheat pro- 

 ducing area. 



Experiment Stations. Liebig in Germany, Boussingault in 

 France, and Lawes and Gilbert in England, were the greatest of 

 the pioneers who blazed the path subsequently followed by 

 the experiment station. The organization of scientific experi- 

 mentation with governmental aid dates from 1851. The 

 American stations are an adaptation of those of Europe to the 

 conditions and requirements of this country, but one of their 

 characteristic features is extensive co-operation. Their establish- 

 ment naturally followed that of the agricultural colleges. In 

 1875 the first station in the United States was established at 

 Middletown, Conn., for which the credit is due to Orange Judd, 

 then editor and proprietor of the American Agriculturist. Sev- 

 enteen stations had been established by 1887, when Congress 

 passed the Hatch act, the great boon for American stations. 

 In 1894, 55 stations were in operation. At some of the sta- 

 tions, especially that of Minnesota, new varieties of wheat and 

 other cereals have been originated which increase the yield 

 several bushels per acre over old varieties under the same con- 

 ditions, giving to the farmer a pure gain of millions of bushels. 



Agricultural Institutions of Learning. The American agri- 

 cultural colleges were organized under the land grant act passed 

 in 1862, supplemented by an act of 1890. Under the provisions 

 of these acts 65 institutions are in operation in the several 

 states and territories. The movement for farmers' institutes, 

 originating in various farmers' societies, has now become 

 national in scope, and during the year ended June 30, 1905, in- 

 stitutes were held in nearly all of the states and territories. 



1 For a complete account of the department, state experiment 

 stations and agricultural colleges, see Bulletin 112, Office of Experi- 

 ment Stations, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



