MEN INFLUENTIAL IN IMPROVING AGRICULTURE. 35 



GREGOR MENDEL (1822-1882). 



In the quiet of his cloister garden, Father Mendel, Abbot of Briinn, 

 conducted with peas a series of experiments from which he deduced 

 laws that provide the foundation for our exact knowledge of the 

 physical processes of heredity. His work is not only the scientific 

 basis of plant and animal breeding, but also of the new science, 

 eugenics, which aims to produce a more intelligent and more vigor- 

 ous race of human beings. Curiously, Father Mendel's important 

 contribution to knowledge attracted no attention till 1900, when it 

 was rediscovered by three distinguished botanists at the same time — 

 by Hugo de Vries, C. Correns, and E. Tschermak. But so rapidly 

 have his ideas spread that it is now asserted that this pious, modest 

 priest will finally have as great an influence upon the practical 

 aspects of science applied to plant and animal breeding as the great 

 Darwin who formulated the theorv of evolution. 



LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY (1858- ). 



Dr. Bailey's great services to the cause of better farming have 

 been of an educational character. He has held various chairs of horti- 

 culture and agriculture; he has lectured before the general public on 

 the same subjects; he has edited magazines which are leading the 

 back-to-the-soil movement ; and he has written a number of textbooks 

 upon the practical study of the subject. In addition, he is the editor 

 of the standard encyclopedias on agriculture and horticulture. Dr. 

 Bailey was until this year director of the Xew York State College of 

 Agriculture, at Cornell University, and was chairman of President 

 Roosevelt's Commission on Country Life. 



WILBUR OLIN ATWATER (1844-1907). 



Dr. Atwater was the first to investigate profoundly the nutrition 

 of plants as applied to agricultural improvement. He secured funds 

 and induced the State of Connecticut to organize the first agricul- 

 tural experiment station in the United States. He was director of 

 this station from 1875 to 1887. Due to the demonstrations made by 

 him the Hatch Bill was passed by Congress, which made it possible 

 for each State and Territory to have a similar experiment station. 

 Dr. Atwater not only investigated the nutrition of plants, but made 

 thorough researches into the nutritive value of a great variety of 

 food products. 



The experiment stations have led to vast savings and equally vast 

 increases in the yield of farm crops. Pests have been combated. 



