LVI REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



attended their work, is ver}^ remarkable. It is now generally recog- 

 nized that we have in this country the most complete and efficient s>'S- 

 tem of agricultural experiment stations which exists anywhere in the 

 world. They have secured the confidence and esteem of our farmers 

 to a most gratifying extent, and will enter upon the new century with 

 a most promising outlook for continued and extended success. 



A quite comprehensive survey of the history and present status of the 

 stations has been made bj" the Office of Experiment Stations during the 

 past year in connection with the exhibit of the stations at the Paris 

 ' Exposition. This is comprised in a volume of over 600 pages, with 

 some 300 illustrations. Under the law only 1 .000 copies of this publica- 

 tion could be issued, and a large share of these were distributed to the 

 representatives of foreign nations at the exposition. It would be 

 well, however, if our own people could ])e made more thoroughly 

 acquainted with the extent and success of this great enterprise on 

 behalf of the vast agricultural interests of the United States, and I 

 hope that Congress will make provision for another edition of this 

 volume for distribution in this coiuitry. 



A considerable number of the wStates have continued to supplement 

 the funds given to the stations l)v the National Government. The total 

 revenues of the stations during the past year amounted to about 

 $1,200,000, of which 1720,000 was received from the National Govern- 

 ment and about $440,000 from State governments and other local 

 sources. The stations now employ nearly 700 persons in the work of 

 administration and investigation, and during 1899 published 445 annual 

 reports and bulletins which were distributed to more than half a 

 million addresses. 



As the work of both college and station grows in extent and com- 

 plexity, it Ijecomes more apparent that in order to perform the most 

 efficient service the station should be organized strictly as a separate 

 department of the institution with which it is connected, and that it 

 should have an organization so compact that its work ma}- proceed in 

 accordance with a schedule caref ulh^ planned and energetically adminis- 

 tered. To secure this end. experience shows that it is quite desirable 

 that the station should ha.xe a competent executi\e officer Avho can 

 devote his time to planning and directing its operations, managing its 

 general l)u.siness, and representing its interests before the public. It 

 is encouraging to observe that in several States during the past year 

 these considerations have led to the more complete separation of the 

 business of the station from the general business of the college and to 

 the appointment of a director of the station as a separate officer. 



THE IXSPECTION SERVICE OF THE STATIONS. 



The amount and variety of inspection service required of our exper- 

 iment stations contiiuie to grow from year to year. Beginning with 



