130 REroRT OV OVFiCK OK EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



ot t'dw l> tor t'l^o-.s I, ,r t lie >j)t'ii;il piuposi' ol" dclt riinMiiiL:' llic inllufiicc of 

 t'iit in tin- ration. Tlir <l('j):irlMicnt of v<'<»'otiil)l(' patlioloj^y iiiid pliysi- 

 oloj^v lias ))ul)lisli('(l recent 1\ (lie I'csults of invcstijj^utions pcrtaininj^ to 

 injuries to shade trees fi-oni i'l(>c(rieity. The rcsiiHs of studies of 

 tomato rots and the iniinin;^- of tomatoes are I'eady for pultlieation, 

 and studies of the inlhieiu-e of soil texture on the orowth of roses and 

 of the carnation stem rots hav(> heen undeitaken. The chaiijic of 

 administration in the dc^partment of hoi'ticulture has resulted in the 

 inau<:uration of sexend new lines of work, inchidinjj;" exj)eriments in 

 pruning and j)ropa<4ation, and woik in systematic pomolo^ry. There 

 are also variet}' tests, cover-crop experiments, cultuial experiments, 

 and studies of apple soils. The station is cc^operating with the Bureau 

 of Chemistrj' of this Department in studying the available plant food 

 in soils. 



The Massachusetts Station has a consideral)le amount of work of a 

 scientitic character in hand, and has recenth' streno-thened its stjitf by 

 the appointuKMit of a nun)b(>r of assistants who liave no colleire duties. 

 A simplitication has ))een made in the method of accounting- and a 

 system of dill'ei'ent-colored vouchers adopted for dili'erent funds. The 

 chemical department has better facilities for exact ash analysis, con- 

 sisting of platinum apparatus for incinerations to secure more exact 

 results regarding the composition of plants. The college has erected 

 a new building, which includes a Avomen's dormitory and a dining hall 

 for students. The State has given funds for (piitc an extensive col- 

 lege and station exhibit in the educational building at the Louisiana 

 Purchase Exposition. 



LINES OF WORK. 



The principal lines of work conducted at the Massachusetts Platch 

 Station during the past 3'ear were as follows: Chemistrj' — miscellaneous 

 analvtical work, studies of legumes and plants affecting the quality of 

 butter; meteorolog}' ; anal3^sis and inspection of fertilizers and concen- 

 trated commercial feeding stuff's; inspection of creamery glassware and 

 inus(>iies; field experiments — soil inoculation, plat experiments with 

 fertilizers, grasses, and various farm crops, supplemented by similar 

 pot experiments; horticulture — varieties of peaches, grapes, and 

 other fruits, raspberry hy))rids, investigations with plums, study of the 

 effect of electricitj^ and illuminating gas on plants and trees; diseases 

 of plants, especially those of melons, cucumbers, and lettuce; diges- 

 tion and feeding experiments; diseases of animals; entomology — 

 stud}^ of the life history* of economic insects and the use of insecticides; 

 and dairying. 



