Sei'temeeu 7, 1SS3.' 



SCIENCE. 



329 



run smoothly on, like the work of the Smithsonian 

 instilution. 



Greater permanency would tend to make the de- 

 partment more efficient, and help it to co-o|)erate 

 with the agricultural departments of the several 

 states and the agricultural colleges and experiment- 

 stations. 



The leading object of these remarks is to call the 

 attention of those who are working for the advance- 

 ment of pure science to the great needs of agricul- 

 ture, the grand opportunities for making discoveries, 

 and the lasting gratitude which such workers are 

 likely to receive from tlie people. Of course, we 

 grant that all science is valuable, that much of pure 

 science has a practical bearing, that no one can 

 foretell what practical results may be reached by 

 investigations in pure science; still there is a ten- 

 dency among scientific men to ignore economic sci- 

 ence. 



I will illtislrate my meaning. The U. S. signal- 

 service is generally supposed to have been established 

 in the interest of science, with the avowed intention, 

 also, of benefiting navigation. The benefits in these 

 respects are certainly worth all they cost, but these 

 are not all the benefits which the service should rec- 

 ognize. 



I note the following as given by Dr. R. C. Kedzie 

 some months ago, to illustmte the tardiness of 

 science and the government to promptly grant assist- 

 ance to the interests of agriculture. 



" Xo industry, e.\cept navigation, is so completely 

 at the mercy of the weather as agriculture, in its 

 widest sense. In the magnitude of the interests 

 thus threatened, agriculture outweighs all others in 

 importance. Indeed, without the sustaining in- 

 fluence of agriculture, commerce itself would vanish 

 like the dew of morning. Timely warnings of im- 

 pending meteorological dangers might be given by 

 the signal-service, which would be of incalculable 

 worth to .igriculture." 



lie illustrates the subject by referring to the pro- 

 tracted rainy weather during the wheat-harvest of 

 1S82, in Michigan, where the loss was very great. 

 " The approach of a protracted storm was known for 

 days before the damage was done. If specific warn- 

 ing had been given our farmers at that time, most 

 of the wheat might have been safely housed, and 

 the farmers of Michigan saved from a loss of more 

 than $1,000,000. The damage inflicted in this way 

 is not isolated and exceptional." 



At length the growers of cotton and toi)acco in the 

 south, and of cranberries in New Jersey, have been 

 recognized by the government, and warnings of ap- 

 proaching frosts have been promptly given. " The 

 general government, through the signal-service, 

 should hold the shield of its protection over l.tnd as 

 over sea, over corn-field as over tobacco-plant, over 

 hay-field as over cranberry-marsh, over wlieat- field as 

 over cotton-plantation, over orchards and vineyards, 

 and the cattle upon a tllousaml hills and prairie leas. 

 Why not extend this work into wider fields by doing 

 for the producer what it has so well done for the 

 carrier? " 



The opinion seems to he too prevalent that few 

 experiments in agriculture are worth attempting, 

 unless it be those conducted by a chemist. This is 

 by no means the case, though it is true that none but 

 a chemist is capable of making those of a certain 

 nature. A physicist will still find in the soil much to 

 interest him, and there is, no doubt, a chance to make 

 discoveries valuable to agriculture. 



With regard to the great importance of investiga- 

 tions and united action concerning the control of 

 various plagues of our domestic animals, we should 

 suppose no one would give a dissenting voice. Some 

 valuable investigaiions have been made concerning 

 the cause and nature of these diseases, among the 

 most interesting of which, it seems to me, are the 

 experiments made by Dr. Salmon in using an attenu- 

 ated virus for inoculating animals, and inoculating 

 asain and again with a stronger virus those not 

 affected by the attenuated virus. If the subject of 

 animal plagues and the means of controlling them 

 were fully discussed at meetings of this association, 

 it would tend to allay prejudice, enlighten the minds 

 of our citizens, and stimulate our law-makers to 

 action. That tliere is need of a more general knowl- 

 edge of this subject, I quote from a recent article by 

 Professor Law in the pioceedings of the Society for 

 the promotion of agricultural science. "The present 

 agitation on behalf of legislation for the extinction 

 of this lung pl.igue in America began actively in 1878, 

 and, notwithstanding that the subject has been con- 

 tinually before federal and slate legislators for four 

 years, but little real progress has been made. Among 

 the drawbacks that may be specially named is the 

 ignorance of legislators, of executives, and even of 

 electois, on this subject." 



In learning how to economically feed domestic 

 animals, there is a great opportunity for investigation. 

 Tliere is much of interest and value to be le.imed in 

 reference to the causes of fluctuation in weight of 

 animals which are carefully fed and watered in a 

 uniform manner. 



Concerning the great need of continued and in- 

 creasing efforts to investigate our injurious and bene- 

 ficial insects, I need say but little; for the subject 

 has been kept before the people, and the peoi)le are 

 always interested to know something about an insect 

 as soon as it injures their crops, or causes them 

 trouble in any way. There is especially much need 

 of more experiments to find better remedies for inju- 

 rious insect.". Attention to this portion of the sub- 

 ject cannot fail to meet with some degree of success. 

 Success here is sure to win the gratitude of every one 

 engaged in agriculture. Success in finding good, 

 cheap, and safe remedies for injurious insects will 

 tend to make science popular, and make endowments 

 fur research nmch easier and more fret]uent than 

 ever before. 



I need liardly add, that lie who finds or breeds a 

 race of honey-bees which is hardier, more industrious, 

 longer-lived, quieter, possessed of longer tongues, 

 and, last but not least, possessed of blunter stings, 

 with less inclination to use them, — he who can suc- 

 ceed in any or all of tliesc objects is entitled to rank 



