54 RKTORT OK OFKICK OF KXI'KHIMKNT STATIONS. 



iidoptctl !i resolution coinnKMuliiiji" '''•' work of llic ncpaitinciil ;ilonti^ 

 the lines of irrigation and aoi-icultiiral cnu-inecrin^-. A sjjccial r('(|U('st 

 was made that the report of the eoinmittee l)e speedily [)ul>lished in 

 eiivulac fonn, and it has been issued as Ciri'uhi^ No. 5H of tins 

 Office. 



The rei)oit of the eommittco on eolleetivc (•ollet»-e and station exhil)it 

 at tho St. Louis Kxposition was pre.sent(^d l>y W. II. dordan, cliair- 

 mati. wiio outlined tiie oi'i^in and history of this nioNcnient, and jrave 

 an abstniet of the law inakine" appropriation foi' the exhibit, details 

 eoncernint'' the exhiMt. and a list of the persons in charo'e of the 

 different exhibits. 



The repoi't of the eoniiiiittee on cooperation between the .stations 

 and this Department, presented by E. A. Bryan, called attention to the 

 statement of fundamental principles embodied in the two previous 

 reports, expressed gratification at the appointment of a connnittee 

 within the Department of Agriculture for perfecting the details of a 

 system of cooperation, and reiterated its belief that a full and free 

 consultation l)etween the stations and the memljers of the Department 

 forces in regard to the work undertaken in the several States is very 

 desirable and would do much to remove possible sources of friction. 



The standing connnittee on uniform fertilizer laws, of which H. J. 

 Wheeler is chairman, called attention to the satisfactory progress 

 which is being made in the direction of greater uniformity, the recom- 

 mendations of the association having been of value in securing the 

 recent passage or amendment of fertilizer laws in Alabama, Florida, 

 Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. This 

 report also included reconnnendations concerning the provisions of 

 laws for feeding-stuti' inspection. 



The repoi't of the standing committee on pure-food legislation, made 

 b}' W. A. \\'ithers, noted considera})le progress along the line of pure- 

 food legislation during the 3"ear. New legislation was enacted in two 

 States, and provisions made ])y Congress for the inspection and control 

 by this Department of foods imported from foreign countries. This 

 was pronounced an unusually important step in food legislation, and 

 its execution has resulted in considerable progress in the preparation 

 of standards of purity. 



The report of the standing connnittee on animal and plant breeding 

 was presented by the chairman, W. M. Haj's, who reported progress 

 and announced a meeting to ])e held at St. Louis, Decem])er 29 and 80, 

 1903, for the purpose of forming an association of plant and animal 

 breeders. 



The committee on revision of methods of seed testing recommended 

 certain changes in the previous report, published as Circular 34 of this 

 Office. These changes relate to an improved germinating chamber 

 and other apparatus, instructions for sampling, etc. 



