REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 



To the Director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment 

 Station. 



Sir:— 



The work of the Agricultural Division during the past year has 

 been very largely along the lines mentioned in my last report. The 

 work in 1897 with potatoes was very satisfactory, and Bulletin 140, 

 " Second Report on Potato Culture," has been issued. The results 

 obtained verify the conclusions which were stated in the former 

 bulletin on potatoes, No. 130. 



The succe.ss of the experiments with potatoes has attracted wide 

 attention, and many farmers of the state have adopted the Cornell 

 method. So important is this work with potatoes that the experiments 

 are being continued, and it is hoped that the results already secured 

 may be still further emphasized. 



The estabhshment of beet sugar factories in the state causes 

 questions relating to the culture of the sugar beet to become of 

 importance. In Bulletin 143, " Sugar Beet Investigations," were 

 pubhshed the results obtained in 1897 not only on the home grounds, 

 but throughout the state. The experiments of last year are being 

 repeated, and an attempt is being made to answer some questions of 

 importance relating to sugar beet culture. 



*A line of experiments has been undertaken looking towards the 

 renovation of old pastures. Much of the land devoted to pastures is 

 of such a nature that it cannot conveniently be tilled. Through 

 neglect or otherwise, the pasture has become moss grown and 

 weedy, and the soil, in many cases, is acid. If some practical way 

 is found for renovating these pastures, it will be of the utmost 

 importance. 



Some of the field experiments, which are now under way, are a 

 study of leguminous plants with reference to their nitrogen gathering 

 powers ; the introculture of grain crops ; testing of various forage 

 plants sent here by the Department of Agriculture at Washington, and 



