Cornell University, ) 

 Ithaca, N. Y., Nov. 1, 1899. i 



Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture, Albany : 



Sir. — The one perennial inquiry at an Experiment Station is liow 

 to restore land to its original producing power. We have made 

 many experiments and investigations to determine the problems at 

 issue. A popular sunmiary of these studies is given herewith. The 

 chemical j^art of the subject has been prepared by G. W. Cavanaugli, 

 under the supervision of Professor Caldwell. Full reports of three 

 years' experimenting with fertilizers are now being compiled for 

 publication in bulletin form. 



This bulletin comprises the following subjects : 



Part T. How to Understand the Prohlem. 



A. Some reasons why lands become impoverished. 



B. How to reclaim depleted lands. 



Part 11. A Crusade with the Farmers. 



A. Reading-Lessons Nos. 1 and 2. 

 No. 1. The Soil : What it is. 



No. 2. Tillage and under-drainage : Reasons why. 



B. Answers to the Questions on Five Reading-Lessons. 

 No. 1. The Soil: What it is. 



No. 2. Tillage and under-drainage : Reasons why. 



No. 3. Fertility of the land : What it is. 



No. 4. How the plant gets its food from the Soil. 



No. 5. How the plant gets its food from tlie Air. 



I. P. ROBERTS, Director. 

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