AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



During the past few years great interest has been developed 

 in our own countr}^ concerning the practical benefit which 

 science may render to agriculture, or the actual applications 

 of scientific results to practical farm work. We have numer- 

 ous agricultural colleges, at which students pursue studies 

 which have a direct bearing upon all branches of practical 

 agriculture ; but there has seemed to be a desire to have the 

 scientific results of the laboratory made more available to 

 actual farm work. This end can be better gained, it is 

 believed, through agricultural experiment stations, as they 

 are carried on in England and on the Continent, than by any 

 other agency. The benefit which these stations have confer- 

 red upon agricultural industry abroad, has led to the estab- 

 lishment of one in the State of Connecticut, and by a recent 

 endowment the Agricultural College at Amherst, Mass., has 

 also established such an one in connection with that institu- 

 tion. That of Connecticut, which was incorporated in 1875, 

 is located at New Haven, and its work is of the most valuable 

 and important kind in connection with agricultural progress 

 in that State. It was founded "for the purpose of promoting 

 agriculture by scientific investigation and experiment ;" and 

 its work is to analyze and test fertilizers, cattle-foods, seeds, 

 soils, waters, and other agricultural materials and products, 

 to identify grasses, weeds and useful or injurious insects, and 

 to give information on the various subjects of agricultural 

 science, for the use and advantage of all farmers of the State. 

 It is sustained by an appropriation from the State, is under 

 the control of a board of managers composed of prominent 

 scientific and agricultural gentlemen, and has a competent 

 working force of skilled chemists and experts. The results 



