ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 73 



ly for information, else we may be misled. The man himself and he alone 

 can give definite and positive knowledge in regard to what he thinks. So 

 with soils. Each type must be questioned separately and individually. The 

 answer given may then be safely recommended for a similar soil but may 

 not apply upon one of an entirely different character. This fact has been 

 clearly recognized by Director Thome and others and has led to the estab- 

 lishment of sub-Stations in different parts of the state and also to the enact- 

 ment of a law permitting each county to have an individual County Test 

 Farm. And may I add here, gentlemen, that if any of you have anything to 

 do with selecting one of these farms, you endeavor to ' secure one rep- 

 resenting the most extensive and important type of soil in the county. If 

 there are two or more types of about equal extent and an adjoining county 

 has a test farm upon one of these, put yours on another type, so that the two 

 will be of mutual benefit. If two or more counties will work together in 

 this matter it will be possible to have these farms on all the important soil 

 types in the state. Above all don't accept a farm upon which the soil is so 

 mixed that it is impossible to secure an area large and uniform enough for 

 experimental purposes. 



But there are some people who do not appreciate the truth of some of 

 the statements which have just been made. They do not realize that the differ- 

 ence in the soil has very much to do with the variety of a crop, for example, 

 vhich will do the best on your farm. It is well, therefore, that we look into 

 this question and see what evidence there is to support these statements. 



PLANTS ADAPT THEMSELVES TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT. 



Everyone admits the great influence of environment updn both animals and 

 plants. In fact, this influence is so important that one of the great philosophers 

 has defined life as a correspondence with environment. We all recognize that 

 we cannot do our best work when out of harmony with our surroundings. This 

 is as true of plants as of men. 



In the Year Book of the Department of Agriculture for 1908 Professor 

 Woods, who is now Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 says, that "As far as they are able plants vary and adjust themselves to their 

 environment. Under natural conditions only those survive which can modify their 

 habits of growth so as to make a successful resistance to destructive influences 

 and propagate their kind. The rest die. The longer a species or variety grows 

 under a given set of conditions the better each generation bcomes adapted to grow 

 and reproduce under these conditions. * * * Selected seed of crops grown un- 

 der severe limiting conditions will as a rule give good results the first year when 

 grown under conditions less severe. The second generation, however, begins to 

 vary and break up, and unless careful attention is practiced the crop soon becomes 

 very unsatisfactory. * * * The great importance of selecting and growing seed 

 under the conditions under which the future crop must be grown is now apparent. 

 Careful experiments and the experience of careful growers have abundantly dem- 

 onstrated the truth of these facts presented. Seed breeders and growers especially 

 must give attention to these points." 



PLANTS SHOULD BE Ass DILATED AS WELL AS ACCLIMATED. 



While the influence of environment upon the growth of plants is now 

 generally admitted, many fail to realize that this environment consists of 

 two parts: an above-ground or climatic environment and an underground or 

 soil environment. Although the influence of climate upon the growth and 

 distribution of plants has long been recognized, the effect of a change from 



