OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 199 



gations at the California Agricultural Experiment Station, 1896 to 

 1898 (Bulletin No. 84, pp. 39), by M.E.Jaffa, assistant professor of 

 agriculture, University of California; and a Report of Investigations 

 on the Digestibility and Nutritive Value of Bread (Bulletin No. 85, 

 pp. 51), by Charles D. Woods, director, and L. H. Merrill, chemist, of 

 the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. 



INCREASING DEMANDS FOR NUTRITION INVESTIGATIONS. 



The growing interest in nutrition investigations manifested by the 

 general public is an encouraging feature of this work. The demand 

 for the publications is constantly increasing and calls are continually 

 coming for more of the same general character. Inquiries reach us 

 frommany different sources and evidence a rapidly developing under- 

 standing of the importance of the study of the nutrition of man, as 

 well as an appreciation of what has already been done. New fields 

 for investigations are constantly opening, new opportunities for 

 cooperation are offering themselves, and new demands are being 

 made for a broader development along numerous lines. 



The subject of these investigations is one that touches every house- 

 hold, as well as numerous public institutions and the Army and Navy, 

 and the results obtained in them maybe made of direct practical 

 value. 



These investigations are being developed in different regions, their 

 benefits are not confined to any one class, and the results are sure to 

 lead to permanent good. Through such investigations broad princi- 

 ples are developed and a sure foundation laid for widespread practical 

 applications of scientific principles to the betterment of the nutrition 

 of mankind. 



The demand for more work of the kind that is being done comes 

 from several sources. One of these is the home science movement. 

 Man}"- people fail to realize the strength of this movement and how 

 widespread and earnest is the purpose to apply scientific knowledge 

 to the conduct of institutions and homes. Household economics is 

 rapidly taking its place among the reciuired studies in our institutions 

 of learning, and the demand for reliable information and for popular 

 ,and technical literature on such topics is rapidly increasing. It is a 

 demand that can not be ignored if the results of the investigations 

 carried on under the direction of the Department of Agriculture are 

 to be made of the most direct and practical value. Recognition of 

 the value of the work already done by the Department has been made 

 b}^ organizations representing this movement and a desire expressed 

 that more might be done in this direction. 



An urgent request was made of the last Congress that the appro- 

 priation for nutrition investigations be increased in order that the 

 investigations now being carried on with reference to the nutritive 

 value of meats and their place in the diet might be broadened. The 

 opportunities and facilities for this Avork are great, and Avith the 

 familiarity with the methods and the experience already gained by 

 the previous work done, results of much practical and scientific 

 importance may be looked for, especially if sufficient funds can be 

 devoted to this kind of work. 



A great deal of interest is being awakened on the Pacific coast in 

 investigations into the food value of fruit. The fruit industry of that 

 section, including both fresh and dried fruits, is of inimense impor- 

 tance, and the resiilts obtained from such investigation would be 



