REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. LV 



every encouragement to the work, carrying the Department's agents 

 and road machinery free, and favoring us otherwise. More States 

 and Territories were visited l)v representatives of the Office and more 

 sample roads were built last year than in any previous year. The 

 work of the Office has been more in States that have not carried this 

 work on to an}' great extent within their borders. Congress has not 

 been asked for large amounts of money up to the present time. It has 

 been thought wise to lay foundations by scientitic means wisely and 

 well, and when the superstructure is being erected and when the 

 interest in the several States and Territories becomes such as to recjuire 

 more expert help. Congress will be called upon for still more liberal 

 appropriations. It is my opinion that the States and Territories should 

 build their roads, but that the Federal Government should do scien- 

 tific work for the whole country that all the States can not do quite 

 so well for themselves. Excellent work is being done, however, in 

 several of the States along- this line, and one of the duties of this 

 Office should be to ascertain what progress is made, along what lines 

 it is being made, and according to what principles. Such informa- 

 tion will then be given to the people of all the States for their instruc- 

 tion and guidance. 



OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 

 THE WORK AND SUCCESS OF THE STATION'S. 



The work of the stations during the past year has for the most part 

 been along the same lines as heretofore, and in the ag-o-reo-ate a large 

 amount of useful work has been accomplished. By their own efforts 

 and with the aid of the colleges of agriculture and the State boards or 

 commissioners of agriculture the stations are bringing their work home 

 more closely to the farmers through publications, farmers' institutes, 

 agricultui-al associations, home-reading courses, and the press. It is 

 becoming evident that farm practice in this country is being materially 

 affected by the work of the stations, and they are more and more relied 

 upon by oiu* progressive farmers for advice and assistance. 



It is now twenty-five years since agricultural experiment stations 

 were first established in this country, beginning their work under the 

 auspices of the States and the agricultural colleges. For half this 

 period their operations were very limited in extent and scope. When 

 the Hatch Act was passed, in 1887. stations had been established in 

 only fourteen States. The sudden expansion of this enterprise to 

 cover the entire country, and the great increase in the scope and 

 variety of the work, as well as lack of available funds, made the task 

 of the development of these institutions very great and arduous. The 

 successful establishment of the stations on a permanent basis in all the 

 States and Territories, and the great success which on the whole has 



