6 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, 'N. Y. 



During the year an effort has been made to change the practice- 

 of the orchardists with the happiest results. By the instruction 

 given at the schools and by bulletins, the fruit growers have been 

 taught that most of their failures have been due to partial soil 

 exhaustion and to careless culture or to no culture. As a result 

 of our efforts, numerous orchards, heretofore kept continuously 

 in grass or grain, have received continuous, clean culture until 

 the last of August with marked benefit. Where suitable fertil- 

 izers were applied in conjunction with clean and continuous cul- 

 ture, the fruit has been most abundant and of superior quality. 

 The benefits which have accrued and are certain to accrue from 

 our teaching and investigations during this year, are so great and 

 far reaching that one hesitates to place a money value upon them^ 

 lest he be charged with exaggeration. 



The numerous letters of appreciation which have been received 

 and the great call for bulletins, justifies the belief that the work 

 of the year has been of a very high character. 



All the various divisions of the station are working so harmo- 

 niously and effectively that no changes are recommended. The 

 office of the director has become to a large extent what I believe 

 it was the desire it should become — a sort of clearing house. 

 During the winter months a hundred written communications 

 frequently reaches the office each day. The inquiries embrace a 

 wide range of subjects, but the station staff, composed as it is of 

 so many able specialists, is able to give help and valuable infor- 

 mation in almost every instance. About one ton of mail matter 

 during the summer and two tons during the winter have been sent 

 out monthly. Our foreign exchange now amounts to 250 and is 

 steadily increasing. 



