262 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



It is now possible as a result of this work to inocu- 

 late at very small expense the seed of all leguminous 

 plants which it may be desirable to cultivate. Bacteria 

 for various legumes were distributed during the past 

 year to a very large number of applicants scattered in 

 nearly every section of this country and in many foreign 

 countries. The results obtained have, as a whole, been 

 extremely satisfactory. While investigation in connec- 

 tion with legumes is at present the most important 

 phase of the work, careful attention is also being given 

 to nitrogen-fixing bacteria which occur in connection 

 with other plants, and especially those forms which 

 live independently of special plants. 



Agriculture is the most ancient, the most 

 Modern Farm universal, and the most important of all 

 Machines. industries. It is an industry which rests 



upon the combined experience of all pre- 

 vious generations. A complete history of agriculture 

 would be the true history of mankind. It began in 

 prehistoric times when primitive man began to select 

 particular plants in his immediate environment as pref- 

 erable to others for his use as food and clothing. Some 

 rude attempt at civilization was made by the aboriginal 

 tribes. The primitive hoe was formed of two forked 

 sticks joined by a strip of leather. The plow was a larger 

 implement of the same kind. Among the tribes of 

 North American Indians in early ages the great burden 

 of agricultural labor was thrown upon the women, the 

 men being engaged in warfare. The sams thing is true 

 to a great extent at the present time on the continent 

 of Europe, especially in Germany, where the mainte- 

 nance of such vast standing armies may demand, for 

 military service, every able-bodied man in a district. 



Gradually the American people advanced in agri- 

 cultural science. They employed capital as well as 

 energy and active enterprise in their business. More 

 systematic practices began to prevail. A provision was 

 made for rotation of crops, and other signs of a growing 

 wisdom and thoughtfulness became apparent. During 

 the Nineteenth century the progress of agriculture was 

 profoundly affected by several great general causes : 



1. The application of science to the improvement 

 of agriculture. 



2. The marvelous changes wrought in transporta- 

 tion methods through the use of steam power on land 

 and sea. 



3. Developments of irrigation, making possible 

 the rapid opening for settlement of vast areas of fertile 

 and cheap lands offered by the Government and by 

 railroads. 



4. The wide dissemination of agricultural infor- 

 mation through books, journals, public documents, 

 farmers' institutes, etc. 



5. The establishment of experiment stations 

 where scientific and practical investigations are carried 

 on ior the benefit of agriculture. In connection with 

 this may be mentioned the inspection of material, the 

 investigation of the enemies and diseases of plants and 

 animals, and the dissemination of information on the 

 theory and practice of agriculture. Climatic conditions 

 are investigated. Soils are analyzed, their geology, 

 physics, and chemistry determined. Their improve- 

 ment and conditions under which they can be used most 

 advantageously are considered. 



6. The establishment of governmental agencies 

 for the promotion of agriculture and the specialization 

 of agricultural industries. 



7. The voluntary co-operation of farmers through 

 numerous associations. 



8. And most important of all, the invention and 

 extensive use of labor-saving machines as applied to 

 agriculture. Until recent times, little effort was made 

 to introduce farm machines, owing to popular prejudice, 

 but in later years the rapid settlement of Government 

 lands brought into cultivation vast areas of productive 

 soil. Invention was further stimulated by the rich re- 

 ward for agricultural products and the high price of 

 human labor. Besides this, increased manufactures 

 called for additional agricultural production to supply 

 raw materials. 



Today the United States is remarkable for the 

 value and number of its farm machines and imple- 

 ments. It exceeds all other countries in its wonderful 

 machines for the cultivation and harvesting of crops. 

 Nearly 'every operation of the farm has been made 

 less burdensome, and many methods of agriculture have 

 been completely transformed. Seed sowers, cultivators, 

 corn binders, small grain binders, and steam threshers 

 and other simlar machines have made it possible for 

 one man to accomplish the work which it would have 

 required twenty men to perform a generation ago. 

 Steam has not yet come into general use as a motive 

 power on the farm. Probably it is in more common 

 use in Southern California and other Western states 

 at the present time than in any other section, being used 

 to propel the immense tractors used there. But view- 

 ing the situation from an economical standpoint, the 

 Eastern farmers seem to prefer horse-power. In fact, 

 it would be impossible to grow the agricultural products 

 of the United States with our present population were 

 it not for farm machines. Of the world's wheat crop, 

 the United States produces one-fifth, three-fourths of 

 the corn and more than one-half the cotton. As nearly 

 as can be computed with the authentic figures avail- 

 able, more than 1,000,000 harvesting machines, includ- 

 ing binders, mowers, reapers, headers, hay rakes, corn 

 binders and huskers and shredders are annually manu- 

 factured in the United States. 



