THE NEW INSPIRATION. 355 



seeker, thus furnished with official information, is enabled 

 without the expenditure of a penny to arrive at a satisfactory 

 conclusion as to whether the locality under consideration is 

 likely to meet his requirements. 



By these records also in connection with the survey of the 

 soil, the localities are determined which are best adapted to 

 the production of the various crops, and new plants are selected 

 for production in the different sections of the country. The 

 Weather Bureau is one of the powerful agents making for 

 the wonderful development of the nation's agricultural re- 

 sources. 



THE WORK OF THE CHEMISTS FOR THE FARMER. 



It is only some fifty years since the chemists began to give 

 their attention to agriculture, and it is less than half that many 

 years ago that the principles of agricultural chemistry were ac- 

 curately worked out. As soon as the principles became under- 

 stood, however, the application was sought with great assiduity, 

 and never has this application been more vigorous than at the 

 present time. It is conservative speech to say that chemistry is 

 doing marvelous things for agriculture in the matter of soil 

 fertility. It is teaching the farmer the most economical manner 

 of securing and applying the principal fertilizing materials 

 such as phosphorus, nitrogen and potash, and what fertilizing 

 ingredients are calculated to produce maximum results in a 

 given locality. It is the case of an abstruse science linked to a 

 practical industry and harmoniously working out the most 

 astonishing results. 



.Consider the sugar industry. The profitable growing of 

 sugar-producing plants, such as cane and beets, is only pos- 



