xcviii Department of Soil Technology 



Soil improvement plats. — A series of soil improvement plats should be 

 established in different parts of the more important soil types, to be con- 

 tinued for a series of years. This would serve three purposes : ( i ) To 

 determine the needs of each soil type; {2) to serve as a demonstration in 

 each community; (3) to supply a source of experiment data and a basis 

 for research. 



Farm drainage. — The first step in the improvement of much of the 

 arable soil in this State is the securing of adequate drainage. This is now 

 coming to be recognized by a large number of land owners and there is a 

 constantly increasing call for aid from the College. The giving of such 

 aid generally necessitates a survey of the land and the preparation of maps 

 for a system of drains. A member of the college faculty who could give 

 his entire time to soil drainage would be able to prepare students capable 

 of doing much of this work, and at the same time to give neighborhood 

 demonstrations that would increase interest in the subject. The expense 

 of the work and demonstration should be borne by the parties who re- 

 ceive the benefit. 



The writer recommends the appointment of an assistant professor of 

 soil drainage, to supply what is now the most urgent need of this Depart- 

 ment in its relation to the student body and to the agriculture of the State. 



Soil survey. — This College should have one permanently employed 

 officer on each of the areas being surveyed by cooperative arrangement 

 between the College and the United States Bureau of Soils-. To do this 

 would necessitate an increase in the appropriation for the survey work. 



The writer recommends that provision be made for the issue by the 

 State of 5,000 soil survey reports for each area, preferably by purchase of 

 reports from the Federal printer and maps from our lithographer, to be 

 published as regular bulletins of the Experiment Station of this College. 

 If the arrangement suggested does not conform to the rules governing 

 state publications, it is recommended that the material as prepared for 

 the Federal reports be presented to the state printer for publication in our 

 regular series of bulletins. 



Glasslioiises. — It is desirable that the glasshouses used by this Depart- 

 ment should be of a kind especially adapted to the needs of the work, 

 instead of being of the type used for horticultural work. It would also 

 be an economy in time and in energy to have the two houses side by side, 

 instead of separated as at present. 



T. LYTTLETON LYON, 

 Professor of Soil Technology. 



