measured and carefully seeded areas, especially selected because of
their uniform and representative character. I think this is public
business and it is best done by the State for the benefit of all.

I have heard narrow politicians call it class legislation to
appropriate funds for such agricultural investigations, but the fact
is that to investigate the soil and to insure an abundant use of
limestone, phosphate, or other necessary materials required for the
improvement and permanent maintenance of the fertility of the soil
is legislation for all the people, both now and hereafter. Would
that our Statesmen would think as much of maintaining this most
important national resource, as they do of maintaining our national
honor by means of battleships and an army and navy supported at an
expense of three hundred million dollars a year, sufficient to
furnish ten tons of limestone to every acre of Virginia land, an
amount twenty times the Nation's appropriation for agriculture; and
even this is largely used in getting new lands ready for the
bleeding process, instead of reviving those that have been
practically bled to death.

As for me, I shall simply take the results which prove profitable on
the accurately conducted experiment fields of the University of
Illinois, one of which is located only seven miles from Poorland
Farm, and on the same type of soil, I shall try to profit by that
positive information, and await the accumulation of conclusive data
relating to tile-drainage and other possible improvements of
uncertain practicability for "Egypt."

Say, but our soil is acid! The University soil survey men say that
the acidity is positive in the surface, comparative in the