116 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. [402] 



at the same time, in one sense, a very narrow one. It is 

 wide in the range of subjects of investigation, but narrow 

 in its application ; it is wide in the range of useful results 

 to be achieved by accurate, earnest seekers after truth, but 

 narrow as regards the number of such laborers. 



Field experiments offer a domain in which each land- 

 owner must become his own laborer ; science proper can- 

 not enter this domain as a laborer she can only hold the 

 lamp of knowledge, to guide by its light, the practical 

 farmer in his personal investigations. Science can only 

 furnish the chart ; the farmer must guide the helm, and 

 must pass over the same course time and again, making 

 close and accurate observations at every advance, to avoid 

 breakers and decoys, before he can determine with cer- 

 tainty the true course. 



The principal subjects demanding investigation, through 

 the medium of field experiments, are 



1. Experiments on worn land, with the principal ele- 

 ments of plant food, applied singly and in different combi- 

 nations, for the purpose of determining what substances, 

 not supplied by the soil, are needed by our various culti- 

 vated plants. 



2. Experiments on lands in "good heart," or " condi- 

 tion," to ascertain what fertilizers produce the best results 

 on different- plants. 



3. Experiments in rotation of crops, to secure the great- 

 est possible benefit from the fertilizers applied, together 

 with an improvement of the soil. 



4. Experiments in soil fertilization, by means of legum- 

 inous plants, with lime, marl, or other mineral substances. 



5. Experiments with composts of home manures, muck, 

 etc., with phosphates, potash, etc. 



6. Experiments with difierent varieties of our agricul- 

 tural and horticultural plants. 



7. Experiments with different methods of preparation 



