REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 



To the President of Coimell University : 



Sir. — I have the honor to transmit herewith the Thirteentli 

 Annual Eeport of the Agricultural Experiment Station of Cornell 

 University. The work of the Experiment Station and that for the 

 "Promotion of Agricultural Knowledge throughout the State," 

 under Chapter 430 of the Laws of 1899, are so closely allied that 

 it seems appropriate to bind together in one volume and to transmit 

 all of the principal publications of the Station together with those 

 which have been issued by reason of the State appropriation. 



The administration of the various Federal and State funds for 

 the improvement of agriculture has been placed in the hands of the 

 College of Agriculture, subject, however, to the approval of the 

 College and Station Council, and, in the case of the State funds, 

 to the approval of the Commissioner of Agriculture. 



The investigations have been directed along two general lines : — 

 those designed to solve as quickly as possible pressing questions, and 

 those which have a far-reaching and more scientific basis. Some of 

 the bulletins embody the results of a single season's work, while 

 others are the results of years of research. In addition to the 

 research work carried on at the College and throughout the State, 

 a Farmer's Reading Course has been established not only for the 

 purpose of giving instruction, but with the view of inducing the 

 farmers to become interested in the experimental work. The 

 climate and soil vary so widely in this State that experiments 

 carried on at the central station are often of little value in many 

 other localities, hence it has been thought wise to induce the leading 

 farmers to investigate either independently or under the direction 

 of the Station. More than four hundred farmers are now experi- 

 menting under the immediate supervision of the Station staff. 

 Expert field agents are sent out to assist in mapping out the work 

 and in selecting suitable ground and plantations. The agents 



ix 



