874
I N D U S T R I A L .AND EXGINEBRING CHEMISTRY
Yo1 l i , No. 8
AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES Edward Hopkins Jenkins
his effectivc consolidation of the management of the two stations in the state; his development of investigations on the growth, HZ perfect background for Dr. Jenkiiis’ unique career of curing, and breeding of tobacco, Io which work he personally conpublic service, chiefly in the interest of agriculture, would tributed much; and his support of the conspicuous workof Osrequire that he had spent his youth upon a farm dose to the prob- borne on proteins, and of Rettger on animal diseases, have been lems of farm life. But since his practical farming erpciience cited by qualified critics as outstanding administrative succes~es appears to be confined to once having driven cows for a neighbor. illustrative of his sympathy with fundamental scientific investigation in agriculture. it is hardlv_oossible to aualifv . . . him as a real ”dirt farmer.” B u t his activities have not been Preparing a t Andover and graduating wholly confined t o local agricultural from Yak College withtheclassof 1872, affairs. H e is a charter member of Edward Hapkins Jenkins entered the the Association of Official Agricultural Shefield Scientific School with the purChemists of t h e United States. was pose of fitting himself for the teaching one of its early presidents, and a memprofession. It WBS there that he beber of the first Pwd Standards Comcame interested in science through his mittee of that association. Hc is also s contact with Prof. Samuel W. Johnson. member, and at one time was president who was then actively engaged in propof the Association of American Agriagandalooking to the establishment of cultural Colleges and Experiment Staan agricultural experiment station in tions. H e served as chairman of the this country after the plan of similar State Sewerage Commission of Cmnecinstitutions abroad. In I875 the lcgisticut, was State F w d Administrator lature granted funds to Wesleyan Uniduring the World War, and h s been versity for carrying on scientific work identified with numerous other enterappropriate t o such a station, but not prises concerned with the public weluntil two years later was the station fare. finally established as a state institution Personally, Dr. Jenkiils is possessed a t New Haven, upon a policy better of those rare qualities of mind and heart adapted to the agricultural interests which make him loved of men. His which it was lo serve, and for which uniform courtesy and wealth of human Professor JoIInson, now chosen director, kindness distinguish him as gentle In that year Dr. had contcnded. Jenkins, lately returned from a period man of the school from which the gradof study in Leipzig, joined its staff as uates are far too few. His ardere were E. H. lenkins assistant cliernist and, with Dr. 13. P. always in the form of requests w suggestions; his business associates were Armsby, began his work as an agricollaborators, not assistantr. Wearcultural chemist. In his two assistants Professor Johnson found a fortunate ing his own accomplishments modestly, he has little tolerance combination of abilities. In the oiie there was the aptitude for for pretense in others. His hobbies are his home, his books, the enacting work of laboratory technic and investigation; in his garden, and the companionship of his fellows. Delightful the otlirr the faculty for acquainting the farmers with the demon- in conversation, his speech, like his writing, is interspersed with strations of the laboratory, and for forming m-ith agricultural rare wit and humor. He cannot suppress it even long enough to intcrcsts in the state those intimate contacts which w c m so vital write a technical station publication. Thus. in one of his bulletins on “Studies of the Tobacco Crop of Connecticut” we find on to the success of this new enterprise. Dr. Jenkins was detailed for this latter task, and thus, aftcr all, he fuliillcd his original the cover page this excerpt from Ben Johnson: purpose for he has always been preeminently a teacl>er. In “By IZcicu!eri I do hold it and v d ! affirm i t , Ocfoie ‘“I prince in those dilys applicd agricultural science was on trial; every iiumpc. to be the most soverei~oand precious weed that ever thc earth “Farmers’ Institutc” was a court of inquiry and the burden of Lendciid to the use of mao.” ‘t8ycnd’sme!’’ rejoins Cob, “I mar7 wha(p1easureorfciicifyfheghav. proof was always upon the station. I t is rather remarkable that a nlall whose tastes are essentially literary should have proved to in takins this ropuirh tobacco. It is p o d for nothins but t o choke a men and fill him iu!l of smoke and embcir.” be a successful advocate in such a cause. IXe assumed administrative duties very early in his career. Be it said, in passing, that Dr. Jenkins is himself B substantial Sin years after his appointment as assistant chemist he became consumer ol the roguish weed t o the culture of which he has given vice director of the station, and in 1900, upon the retirement of so much attention. Relcased from o&&l responsibilities, he regards his leisure Professor Johnson, he was appointed director. As an administrator few public servants have commanded the measure of can- largely as an opportunity for further work, and he may be found fidence which he enjoyed. He approached legislatures with con- now occupicd with the records of early Colonial agriculture sumate skill and rarely indeed did his requests oi them fail to and other historical writings, not forgetting his garden, f a r which receive prompt and favorable consideration. At a time in liie Mrs. Jenkins shares his great fondness. and finding time also t o when most men seek to lighten their businesscares, he assumed, in make frequent visits t o the station to kcep in sympathetic touch 1912, the added task of directing the experiment station a t Storrs. with its affairs which he administered so long and so admirably. His extension to the field of the work of the Connecticut station, A gentleman, a scholar, but first a maul E. M. BAILEY which a t first was almost exclusively a laboratory institution;
