REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 



To the President of the Cornell University : 

 Sir: 



I have the honor herewith to transmit the Annual Report of the 

 Cornell Universit}- Agricultural Experiment Station, which in- 

 cludes the reports of the Treasurer and Deputy Director and Sec- 

 retary, together with those of the divisions of Chemistry, Bot- 

 any, Entomology, Agriculture, and Horticulture ; also Bulletins 

 Nos. V to XV inclusive, and a detailed statement of receipts and 

 expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889. 



The eleven bulletins issued during the year embrace a wide field 

 of investigation. Some of them are of a scientific character, but 

 are none the less valuable on that account. It is impossible to 

 make steady advancement in our investigations without the aid of 

 the knowledge which purely scientific investigation gives. 



The Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station published in 

 June a valuable bulletin on the potato blight. As that disease 

 had appeared in many places in this State, it was decided to pur- 

 chase three thousand copies and distribute them in the potato 

 growing districts. 



The aim has been to give immediate help to those who are seek- 

 ing for it, so far as we might be able, while at the same time, do- 

 ing much work in perfecting new methods, and testing and in- 

 vestigating the accuracy of methods now in use, in order that our 

 results may be as perfect as human skill can make them. 



There are many indications that the work done in the last year 

 has been of marked and permanent value. The mailing list, home 

 and foreign, has now reached upwards of seven thousand, and is 

 increasing rapidl3\ 



There are not less than five hundred thousand adult men in the 

 State who are directly engaged, to a greater or less extent, in 

 growing animals and plants, and to reach all of these with bulle- 

 tins would absorb the greater share of our resources, and leave 

 little for doing the work out of which bulletins should naturally 

 grow. 



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