XXVII 



THE TRUE RELATION OF SCIENCE TO THE INDUSTRIES 

 AND ARTS 



Proceedings of a Convention of Agriculturists held at The 

 Department of Agriculture, January 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 29, 

 1883. (Second Convention.) Special Report No. 2. 



The evolution of Agricultural Science has been phenomenal 

 in the past third of a century. The point of view as far back 

 as that may show at least how far we have come. The fol- 

 lowing paper was read before a meeting of representatives of 

 the Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, Boards of 

 Agriculture and Agricultural Societies, held in Washington, on 

 invitation of Commissioner of Agriculture George B. Loring, 

 January, 1883. This convention was the precursor of the 

 Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, 

 which now exerts a powerful favoring influence on agricul- 

 tural education in the United States. 



Some of the prophecies of thirty-one years ago have al- 

 ready been fulfilled. The transfer of the weather predictions 

 from the Signal Service has long been an accomplished fact. 

 The weather service was given to the Department of Agricul- 

 ture as I predicted. The work of the agricultural colleges and 

 experiment stations has been systematized and vastly improved. 

 Trained experts, not available thirty years ago, are now in 

 control of most of the experimental work. Technical instruc- 

 tion has advanced so rapidly that no longer does a young 

 American need to go abroad to obtain the technique to do his 

 work. Large numbers of students are devoting themselves to 

 agricultural studies and pursuits. Engineers of all kinds, 

 civil, mechanical, electrical and agricultural, are graduated in 

 increasingly large numbers from Uncle Sam's big university. 

 The impress of this flood of technical education is felt in every 

 industry. Unfortunately, agricultural industries have re- 



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