10 
[January, 
American agriculturist. 
Building Homes. 
Forty-Five Millions of People in our country want 
some kind of a house to shelter them. At least 
ten millions of these give considerable thought 
and attention to the style, comfort, and conve¬ 
nience of the dwelling, in which they eat and sleep, 
rear the family, and in which is passed all of the 
time of mothers and daughters, and half the time, 
more or less, of fathers and sons. Some millions 
of people spend at least half their lives in toilsome 
effort to secure their own homes. Very few have 
the practical architectural skill needful to plan 
and construct, or have constructed, the best, the 
most convenient, the most comfortable, and the 
most eye and taste pleasing dwelling that can be 
erected with the sum they can devote to this pur¬ 
pose. This fact has led us to endeavor to give in 
every number of this journal some plan and some 
suggestions that may help in improving the homes 
of our readers, and especially aid those who have 
houses to builu. Recognizing in Mr. Reed an 
architect, who possesses the rare talent of “com¬ 
mon sense,” W'e have given this department mainly 
to his care, and have sent to him most of the con¬ 
tributions from our readers in this line. For three 
years past he has supplied to nearly every number 
of this Journal, some house-plan of his own devis¬ 
ing, or one made up from the suggestions of con¬ 
tributors. These plans cover a wide range, from 
the lowliest §300 or §400unpretentious residence, up 
to the costly, tasteful mansion. We do not com¬ 
mend all these plans, by any means, yet scarcely 
one fails to afford some useful new hint or sug¬ 
gestion. Those who have read them from time to 
time, must have noticed the many good ideas, new 
and old, which they have presented. The details 
in construction given, and the carefully prepared 
estimates of amount, kind, and cost of materials 
and labor, are of great practical value. Any one 
having a dwelling to construct, modify, or improve, 
would doubtless save ten or a hundred fold their 
cost, if, before deciding upon a plan, he should pro¬ 
cure the past three volumes of this Journal, and 
read through all that Mr. Reed has written, and also 
what he will hereafter contribute. We hope that 
within a year to come, Mr. Reed will be able to 
combine and concentrate into a popular volume of 
convenient size and price, what has already ap¬ 
peared in these pages, In the meantime, those 
who want earlier information can obtain the past 
three Volumes, bound or unbound, if they have 
them not already. (See Publishers’ notice, page 6.) 
We solicit continued correspondence, plans, notes, 
queries, etc., to be sent to Mr. Reed, as helps to 
make his contributions still more valuable, and as 
much as possible adapt them to meet the wants of 
the greatest number. 
Science Applied to Farming.—XXXVII 
Progress of Agricultural Science.—Cheap 
Fertilizers. 
The number (37) of this article reminds me that 
I have been writing now three years for the Ameri¬ 
can Agriculturist on topics connected with Agricul¬ 
tural Chemistry. In this time I have grown to feel, 
in a sense, acquainted and in sympathy with my 
readers. The letters they write are from almost 
every State and Territory in the Union, and some 
from.foreign lands, the talks with those I meet, the 
keen interest so many express in the science whose 
simpler details I have tried to tell them about, the 
enthusiasm with which not a few have reported 
their success in putting into practice suggestions 
I have made, and, withal, the words of thanks 
and cheer that come as well from men whose 
mien tells of hard and homely toil as from those 
whose language savors of learning and air of 
wealth ; these all assure me that to begin this 
the fourth year of my letters to them, no topic 
will please them more than the wonderful progress 
of science applied to farming. 
Although, 
“ Science comes but slowly, slowly, creeping on from 
point to point,” 
and though farmers are proverbially couservative, 
yet agriculture is gradually coming into line with 
the other arts and industries in the march of mod¬ 
ern progress, and making use of its share of the 
benefits of science. A proof of this, cheering as it 
is conclusive, is found in the wonderful growth of 
the Agricultural Experiment Stations. It is only a 
little over a quarter of a century ago that a few 
progressive Saxon farmers, seeing what chemistry 
was doing for other interests, firm in the belief that 
it would do no less for theirs, their faith confirmed 
by the examples of Liebig in Germany, Boussin- 
gault in France, Lawes and Gilbert in England, and 
some of tlieir own number at home, but, at the 
same time, feeling the need of more accurate ex¬ 
perimenting than they, as individuals, had the 
means or the skill to carry on, joined together, and 
founded, in 1853, in the little village of Mosckern, 
in Saxony, the HvstFarmers' 1 Station for Agricultural 
Experimenting. An agricultural society furnished 
a farm; a private individual and another society 
contributed the necessary funds, the farm house 
was turned into a chemical laboratory, the farm 
supplied what else was needed. A young chemist 
of promise, the now famous Dr. Wolff, was called 
to conduct the work, and the Station was an ac¬ 
complished fact. 
The seed thus sown has borne marvellous fruit. 
The Moeckern Station proved so strikingly useful, 
that the government came to its aid and added to 
its revenue. The example proved contagious. 
Other Stations were started in Saxony, and then in 
other German States. Governments, agricultural 
societies, schools, and private individuals, united 
in founding them and contributing to their sup¬ 
port. Soon the idea crossed the boundaries of Ger¬ 
many. The good work begun in France, throve in 
spite of the regime of Louis Napoleon, and under 
the Republic promises a successful future. In Aus¬ 
tria, Holland, and Russia, like enterprises were un¬ 
dertaken, and are rapidly increasing. Italy, united 
under the liberal leadership of Victor Emanuel, 
found this one of the most efficient means of fur¬ 
thering her most important industry, and had, in 
1870, one; in 1873, six, and has now sixteen Experi¬ 
ment Stations. Magnificent work in this direction 
has long been going on in England. Belgium, 
Switzerland, and Denmark, have joined vigorously 
in the movement, and, last of all, Spain has fallen 
into line with a Station started in 1876. There are, 
to-day, no less than 119 regularly organized Agri¬ 
cultural Experiment Stations in the different coun¬ 
tries of Europe. Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, 
being the only ones without them. 
Of these 119 Stations, over one-half have been 
established in the last six years, and 40 during the 
last three years. Prussia has 29, all Germany 66, 
and the other European States 53. Besides these, 
there are not far from 50'laboratories connected 
with universities, 'agricultural schools, or large es¬ 
tates, which, though not technically Experiment 
Stations, are doing the same kind of work. 
It is a suggestive fact that among the earliest 
means adopted by the Germans after their war with 
France, to conciliate their newly acquired provinces 
of Alsace and Loraine, by improving their conditon, 
were, in accordance with the policy that brought 
them their great victory, the establishment at Stras- 
burgh, of a University, and at Rufacli, of an Agricul¬ 
tural Experiment Station. That a large part of the 
pecuniary support of these institutions comesfrom 
farmers, is proof of their appreciation by practical 
men. The estimate in which they are held in the 
scientific world is indicated by the fact that all the 
larger German universities, and several of those of 
other European countries, have laboratories and 
other appliances devoted to agricultural research" 
Experiment Stations in the United States are still in 
their infancy, but promise a brilliant future. Only 
two have as yet been successfully inaugurated, one 
in Connecticut, and one in North Carolina. Several 
of our leading Universities, Agricultural Schools, 
and Bureaus and Boards of Agriculture, have been 
doing excellent work in this direction, notably the 
Bussey Institution of Harvard University, the 
Georgia Bureau of Agriculture, and various others. 
As I am informed by persons who have applied in 
person or by letter for information concerning the 
organization of the Connecticut Station, efforts, led 
by prominent agriculturists, are already in progress 
to secure the establishment of similar institutions 
in no less than eight other States, and steps are be¬ 
ing taken in the same direction in several more. 
YVIiat is tSic Cheapest Commercial Fertilizer I 
is an inquiry that I freqtiently receive. The most 
economical fertilizer for a given ease is that which 
supplies, in the best forms, and at the lowest cost, 
the plant food which the crop needs and the soil 
fails to furnish. The requirements of different soils 
and crops are of course varied. In itself considered, 
that commercial fertilizer is the cheapest which fur¬ 
nishes the valuable ingredients at the lowest rates. 
Our State Agricultural Society had this subject can¬ 
vassed with unusual thoroughness by offering at 
their fair a year ago last fall, prizes for those 
“ fertilizers which, as actually sold in the State, are found, 
on comparison of the selling price with the actual com¬ 
position as shown by the averages of the analyses made 
at the State Agricultural Experiment Station, to furnish 
the valuable ingredients in the best forms and at the 
lowest prices per pound.” 
The first prize, a Gold Medal, offered “ for the 
Fertilizer which furnishes the largest quantity, at 
the lowest price per pound, of Nitrogen, Phos¬ 
phoric Acid and Potash,” was given to No. 1 Peru¬ 
vian Guano, Rectified, manufactured by Hobson, 
Hurtado & Co., and sold by them and by C. V. 
Mapes. In the Judges’ report, which was based, not 
“upon the specimens exhibited by manufacturers or sellers 
at the State Fair, but upon the character of the Fertilizers 
actually sold to the Farmers of Connecticut, as Shown by 
analyses of a large number of samples collected from 
various places where they were sold,” they “ take 
occasion to say that wc deem the plan adopted in the 
preparation and sale of Peruvian guanos, particularly 
the ‘ Rectified ’ and ‘ Guaranteed 1 brands, worthy of spe¬ 
cial commendation, in that the prices at which they are 
sold are based upon the analyses as guaranteed upon each 
package, each pound of the valuable ingredients being 
rated at a certain price, instead of the usual way of selling 
by the gross weight irrespective of the relative propor¬ 
tions of the valuable and the comparatively worthless in¬ 
gredients. It is both fortunate and suggestive that the 
plan, which is the most rational and just one for the sale 
of commercial fertilizers, should have been adopted for an 
article of such leading importance in our agriculture.” 
The prize for ammoniated superphosphates was 
awarded to Russel Coe ; that for superphosphates 
without nitrogen, “ plain superphosphates,” to H. J. 
Baker & Bro., and that for fish manures to the Quin- 
nipiac Fertilizer Co. The Stockbridge and Mat- 
field Fertilizers received honorable mention as being 
what they were claimed to be. Since this report 
was made, a good many more fertilizers have been 
analyzed at our laboratory. Indeed, during a little 
over two years past not far from 300 samples of 
commercial fertilizers, comprising nearly all of the 
more important kinds sold in this part of the coun¬ 
try, have come to my hands for analysis. Among 
these were 15 samples of Peruvian guano. The 
composition of these averaged, on the whole, bet¬ 
ter than was claimed. Taking into account both 
quality and price, no other fertilizers have been 
seen at our laboratory, which, as a class, taking 
into account both quality and price, furnish 
the valuable ingredients of plant food so cheaply as 
Peruvian guano. W. O. Atwater, 
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. 
Ogden Farm Papers.—Ho. 95. 
BY GEORGE E. WARING, JR. 
Whatever may be the future experience of the 
Ogden Farm enterprise, of one thing I am quite 
sure : that I shall have no duty in connection with 
it so distasteful as the writing of this paper. Hence¬ 
forth—having learned wisdom by experience—I 
shall make no more promises. In the enthusiastic 
anticipation of a brilliant success, I promised, eight 
years ago, to tell the whole story of my farming, 
with full and entire frankness. I have left myself 
no loophole for escape, and must be ns good as my 
