798 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
November 29 
then be possible for the University to provide addi¬ 
tional instruction in subdivisions of agricultural 
science which are now not specially represented in 
our faculty. I am frank to say that, in my own judg¬ 
ment, that is the direction in which our regular four- 
year course in agriculture should in the future de¬ 
velop.” 
“Does that complete your ideal for agricultural edu¬ 
cation in the State of New York?” 
“No, it does not. When I became President of the 
University over 10 years ago I insisted that we should 
have a short Winter course in agriculture which farm¬ 
ers’ sons and daughters might attend without passing 
any entrance examinations, and without paying any 
tuition. In that course, which lasts three months, we 
have from 80 to 100 students; some of them coming 
for more than one Winter. This popularization of 
agricultural instruction has been a very great good to 
the farmers of the State. But that is not all. We de¬ 
sire to carry the light of agricultural science to the 
farmers’ homes. And, thanks to the State appropria¬ 
tion of $35,000 already referred to, this scheme has 
been realized, and our agricultural lectures, schools, 
experiments and correspondence classes, to say noth¬ 
ing of the leaflets and printed bulletins, are carrying 
the torch of agricultural science into thousands and 
thousands of farmers’ homes where men, women and 
school children are enrolled as our distant pupils.” 
“Is that enough?” 
“In my judgment it is not. The high schools of the 
country, through their instruction in mathematics and 
the sciences, fit. boys for the mechanic arts and engi¬ 
neering; but there are no schools anywhere in the 
State whose course of instruction tends to fit boys and 
girls for the work of the farm. I should like to see 
by way of experiment an agricultural school estab¬ 
lished in at least each judicial district of the State, 
where boys and girls should be received after they 
had completed the elementary instruction of the com¬ 
mon schools. I would have these schools maintained 
like the rest of the school system at public expense. 
The instruction might embrace such topics as physical 
geography, soils and fertilizers, economics of agricul¬ 
ture, dairying, plant life, vegetable and flower garden¬ 
ing, economic insects, animal husbandry and poultry 
keeping, with a little practice in carpentry and metal 
work. The course for girls would substitute for some 
of the foregoing cooking, sewing, the chemistry of 
foods ana domestic hygiene. Such schools should be 
kept in close touch with boys and girls leaving the 
common schools. They should not endeavor to lift 
themselves to a grade higher than the country schools 
can fit for. The cost would not be heavy, as from two 
to six teachers would certainly suffice for each school. 
With the establishment of such county or judicial dis¬ 
trict schools I would also provide for instruction in 
agriculture in the normal schools, and require the 
future teachers of the country schools to prepare 
themselves for giving such instruction. In that way 
education in agriculture would begin in an elementary 
fashion in the country school, become a specially in 
the judicial district agricultural school, and culmi¬ 
nate in the advanced course in agriculture in Cornell 
University, which I would make the crown of the en¬ 
tire system of agricultural education in the State of 
New York. It would be the business of the University 
to supply teachers for these lower schools, and to help 
them in the prosecution of their work. What I pro¬ 
pose is a system of University Extension in Agricul¬ 
ture such as the University now conducts, but with 
schools all over the State as subordinate, cooperating 
centers. I would have the first of these schools estab¬ 
lished in connection with the College of Agriculture 
at the University and others founded elsewhere 
throughout the State as soon as this proved itself a 
success.” 
“Has such a system been anywhere attempted?” 
“Yes, something of the kind has already been pro¬ 
vided for by the Legislature of Wisconsin, and coun¬ 
try schools of the kind I have described are already 
in operation there. Indeed, not only Wisconsin but 
Illinois, Ohio, Iowa and several other States of the 
Northwest are far ahead of New York State in the 
matter of agricultural education. The legislatures of 
those States have thought it good policy to use the 
agricultural colleges of their State universities for 
the promotion of a system of universal agricultural 
instruction. What Wisconsin has done through the 
University at Madison, that the State of New York 
may, if it will similarly rise to the occasion, do on a 
larger scale and with more beneficent results through 
Cornell University.” 
“Is it true that agricultural students take advantage 
of the present course in agriculture to obtain free in¬ 
struction in arts, sciences, law, engineering and other 
subjects?” 
“I have already explained that a considerable por¬ 
tion of the course now laid out for agricultural stu¬ 
dents consists of elective studies, mostly, however, in 
the departments of the arts and sciences. Of these 
studies English, physics and political economy are 
prescribed, and about one-fourth of the entire work of 
the four-year course in agriculture is devoted to other 
sciences or to languages, history, etc.” 
“Would Cornell University enter heartily into sucn 
a movement for the more complete popularization of 
agricultural instruction through the State of New 
York?” 
“I reply unhesitatingly that we would. It is what 
we desire to do. If the Agricultural College of Cornell 
University has in comparison with some of the agri¬ 
cultural colleges of the Northwest not maintained the 
position of primacy which it once enjoyed, it is not 
because the University authorities have not strained 
every effort to push the College of Agriculture, but 
because they have been without the resources which 
the States of the Northwest have with such far-sight¬ 
ed, practical wisdom put at the disposal of their col¬ 
leges of agriculture. As I have already said, agricul¬ 
ture is a leading object of the charter of the Univer¬ 
sity. We have exalted it; we desire to exalt it higher. 
We have carried it into many parts of the State; we 
desire to carry it to all. Our work in the past has not 
been organized on the permanent basis which the land 
grant colleges of the Northwest enjoy in consequence 
of the generous support of their State legislatures. 
If the scheme I have outlined above were carried out, 
if the Legislature sees fit to make it possible for Cor¬ 
nell University to do this work, I pledge not only the 
sympathy but the active, aggressive, devoted, and 
self-sacrificing support of the trustees and faculty of 
Cornell University to make it a success. And there is 
one factor which I may mention that seems in advance 
to augur success. At Cornell University we are ac¬ 
customed to the boys and girls from the country and 
the small village. The majority of our students are 
of this class. They are the typical Americans, sucn 
as are not found in the large cosmopolitan cities. 
Most of our students are poor. But with the educa¬ 
tion they get here they go out into the world and 
achieve success. If now we might prepare for the 
work of the farms these typical American youths who 
in the past have prevailingly gone into other voca¬ 
tions, I have no doubt that the Cornell training would 
tell as markedly in agriculture as it has already done 
in mechanical and other jmrsuits to which the ma¬ 
jority of our students have devoted themselves.” 
“Have you any other facts you desire to state?” 
“I should be glad to answer any further questions 
you might address to me. And in this connection I 
wish to say that I am very glad to have this opportu¬ 
nity of laying before a fair-minded man, as I now lay 
before you, in these facts and figures, an exhibit of 
what Cornell University has done, is doing, and de¬ 
sires to do for agricultural education in the State ol 
New York. I should also be glad to answer any ques¬ 
tions which you or any others interested in this prob¬ 
lem may desire to address to me. While our work in 
agriculture has been hampered by lack of resources 
as compared with the great agricultural colleges of the 
Northwest, we are yet proud of what we have done, 
and there is no fact either in connection with the 
instruction or financiering of our Agricultural College 
which I should not be pleased to lay before any in¬ 
terested parties. I feel so strongly that the time is 
ripe for us to move in the direction in which the 
northwestern agricultural colleges have already blazed 
the way that I earnestly desire the facts of the case 
to become known to our farmers throughout the State 
with whom, when thus informed, I am quite willing to 
leave the all-important subject of the improvement 
and organization of agricultural instruction in all 
grades throughout our splendid commonwealth of 
New York.” 
“Do you agree with me that the State must make 
provision for agricultural education?” 
“I see no alternative. At Cornell University the 
different colleges are developed and expanded either 
by means of gifts received for the purpose or fees re¬ 
ceived from students. No one in America gives for 
the promotion of agricultural education, and at Cor¬ 
nell University no fees are charged to students in the 
College of Agriculture. If agricultural education Is to 
be improved there is left only the State to do it, and 
when farmers come to realize how much might be 
done I believe they will demand that the Legislature 
make adequate provision for agricultural education 
from the lowest grade to the highest, from the rural 
school to Cornell University.” 
We are often surprised to see how few people, com¬ 
paratively, study the bulletins issued by the experi¬ 
ment stations. Every day we have questions asked 
which have been well answered or anticipated by the 
stations. It is not our business to find fault with peo¬ 
ple for not knowing what the stations are doing, and 
we would get out of such a business if it were. It is 
a duty and a pleasure to help put the bulletins where 
they are needed. A farm paper can do this without 
any injury to its own business. 
HOW TO SAVE TOMATO SEED. 
I have been growing tomatoes for 14 years and can 
give G. M., page 737, some personal experiences. No 
market gardener can afford to sow seed of question¬ 
able vitality or variety if offered for nothing. The 
surest way is to grow our own seed of such varieties 
as are adapted to our climate, regardless of cost. I 
would advise G. M. first to select the variety best 
adapted to his market, and constantly try to improve 
that variety first by selecting for seed tomatoes that 
are the desired size, contour and shape, without any 
outward defects such as rot, cracks around stem or 
scab on blossom end; in fact, a perfect tomato in 
every respect. These tomatoes must be selected when 
ripe, so that the seed will have ample time fully to 
develop, thus insuring stronger vitality. Never se¬ 
lect tomatoes from plants showing any weakness of 
growth. If it is desired to improve the variety as re¬ 
gards earliness select tomatoes from such plants as 
show a tendency to ripen their fruit in advance of 
others, and not from the first ripe fruit regardless of 
shape and other good points. Having thus selected 
the desired fruits allow them to stand for a few days 
before cutting. Usually five bushels of tomatoes of 
ordinary varieties will produce one pound of seed. 
In cutting tomatoes for seed always cut crosswise, 
thus showing the seed cells, and. reject all that show 
large cells and thin outside walls or hard cores. A 
tomato to be a good shipper must have a thick skin 
and firm meaty walls around each cell. This second 
selection is very important if the best type of tomato 
is desired. Always remember that it is easier to in¬ 
breed 10 defects than breed out one. 
As fast as the tomatoes are cut and the desired ones 
chosen squeeze the pulp and seed in a wooden or 
earthen vessel, never use metal; then expose to the 
sun either under glass or out of doors. In from 12 to 
24 hours fermentation will begin to take place. The 
pulp and seed will begin to rise to the top, when the 
mass should be stirred occasionally (say two or three 
times a day). At the end of the third day if after 
stirring and allowing to settle the seed does not ap¬ 
pear on top the batch is ready to wash off, which is 
done by adding plenty of water, thoroughly stirring 
and pouring off all that rises above the seed. Re¬ 
peat the operation until the water is clear, when ex¬ 
cessive amount of water can be squeezed out by hand 
and the seed spread out thin on a sheet or frame cov¬ 
ered with cheesecloth and exposed to the air and sun 
to dry. Before the seed is thoroughly dry collect to¬ 
gether and rub thoroughly between the hands; spread 
out again and complete the drying process. When 
thoroughly dry put up in paper bags. Tomato seed 
thus grown will test from 90 to 100 per cent, and if 
kept dry will retain its vitality for eight years. (I 
have a sample which I grew nine years ago that tested 
85 per cent.) Much of the tomato seed on the market 
is the refuse of canning factories or the product of an 
entire crop grown under contract at so much per 
pound. Seed grown as described above is not on the 
market, and cannot be grown for less than $10 per 
pound. As one pound of tomato seed contains about 
140,000 seeds no grower can afford to take any chances 
with seed from green or otherwise inferior stock. 
Rensselaer Co., N. Y. J- J., JR. 
TAKING HORNS FROM CATTLE. 
The majority of dishorning at the present time is 
done with a saw, which is considered the best way, 
as the sliding-knife devices seem to crush rather than 
cut. I should say that about 75 per cent of the fat 
cattle that go to market are dishorned. Where a man 
intends putting his cattle in the feed lot immediately 
after getting them home, it is not advisable to dishorn 
them, as it sets them back for 30 days, which necessi¬ 
tates quite a loss. It is generally conceded that the 
Fall and Winter months are the best time to do dis¬ 
horning, as where they are dishorned in the Spring 
and Summer the flies bother them, filling the sore 
places with maggots. In quite a few instances there 
is a liquid preparation put upon the horns of calves 
to prevent them from growing. A great effort is be¬ 
ing made nowadays to breed cattle without horns, 
and it is proving to be a great success. As you no 
doubt are aware, there are several breeders in the 
country who are now raising what they call “Polled 
Herefords,” it being the regular Hereford cattle born 
without horns. The breeders of purebred stock do 
not dishorn their pedigreed animals where they in¬ 
tend offering them for sale, as it injures their gen¬ 
eral appearance for that purpose. The above informa¬ 
tion refers particularly to cattle that are to be placed 
in the feed lots. Wkere cattle are to be run upon the 
open range in North and South Dakota, Montana and 
Wyoming, as well as other Western States, it is pre¬ 
ferable to have them with their horns on, so that the 
animal is in a position to fight wolves and other wild 
animals that attack them. Of course the younger an 
animal is dishorned the better the results. 
Sioux City, Iowa. c. f. abbott. 
