OFFICE OF EXPEKIMENT STATIONS. 169 



that Avitli adequate funds and proper administration the inspection 

 service may be made an aid to the investigations of the stations. 

 Others are equally positive that it is a hindrance to the more original 

 work. There is also involved the broader question as to how far it is 

 wise to give administration of State laws and performance of j)olice 

 duties to stations which are constituent parts of educational institu- 

 tions. This inspection work has spread so rapidly in recent years that 

 it is not to be wondered at that legislatures have found it easiest to 

 satisfy public demands for the utilization of scientists in this direc- 

 tion by calling upon the trained officers of the stations to ijerform this 

 duty. This does not by any means prove that it is the best ultimate 

 arrangement. There are many reasons why it would seem more 

 appropriate that such work should be intrusted to administrative 

 bureaus directly connected with the State government. It is not my 

 purpose to discuss this subject here, but simply to call attention to 

 its importance and to the fact that as a live question affecting the 

 management of our stations, this Office is constantly called upon to 

 advise with regard to it and to declare and maintain the policy of the 

 Department relating to the national funds as affected by the inspection 

 service existing or about to be inaugurated at the stations. 



SUPERVISION OF EXPENDITURES. 



The fifth annual examination of the work and expenditures of the 

 agricultural experiment stations which receive the national funds 

 appropriated under the act of Congress of March 2, 1887 (Hatch Act), 

 with special reference to the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899, was made 

 during the past year in accordance with the authority conferred upon 

 the Secretary of Agriculture by Congress, and a report of this investi- 

 gation was prepared for transmission to Congress, as required by law. 

 This report was published as House Doc. No. 500 (Fifty-sixth Con- 

 gress, first session), and a special edition was issued as Bulletin No. 

 83 of the Office of Experiment Stations and distributed to the govern- 

 ing boards and officers of the stations. 



As heretofore, the report was based upon three sources of informa- 

 tion, viz, the annual financial statements of the stations, rendered on 

 the schedules prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture in accord- 

 ance with the act of Congress; the printed reports and bulletins of the 

 stations; and the reports of personal examinations of the work and 

 expenditures of the stations made during the year by the Director, 

 assistant director, and one other expert officer of the Office of Experi- 

 ment Stations. The stations in all the States and Territories have 

 been visited since the previous report was transmitted to Congress. 



The following statements taken from the report indicate the general 

 condition of the stations, especially in relation to the terms of the 

 Hatch Act and the appropriation b}' Congress under that act : 



The work of the stations during the past j-ear has for the most part been along 

 the same lines as heretofore, and m the aggregate 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 more closely to the farmers through publications, farmers' 

 institutes, agricultural 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 our pro- 

 gressive farmers for advice and assistance. 



Tlie financial business of the stations. — The financial business of the stations is 

 now generally conducted systematically and carefully, and with due regard to the 

 limitations of the Hatch Act and the State laws governing their operations. As 



