EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT. 263 



besides his inquiries concerning the best means for the 

 destruction of the seeds of weeds, is fairly under way, and 

 reports of the progress in these matters may soon be expect- 

 ed in the periodical publications of the Station. 



The investigations concerning the characteristics of the 

 '''■fire wqrm^''' the pest of the cranberry, with a view of ascer- 

 taining the means for its destruction, which, by a vote of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, had been referred to the Station, 

 has received a careful and generous attention, at ray invita- 

 tion, by Prof. W. S. Stearns, an entomologist by profession. 

 The results of his work have been presented, in an able 

 paper, at the late country meeting of the State Board of 

 Agriculture, at Lowell. 



The chemical department has been engaged to the full 

 extent of its means. Most of its work has been already 

 published in six monthly bulletins. 



The analytical examinations comprise a series of articles 

 sent on for that purpose by farmers' clubs ; leading agricul- 

 tural • chemicals and other commercial manurial substances, 

 not under control of the fertilizer laws ; a variety of refuse 

 material for the manufacture of home-made fertilizers ; im- 

 portant commercial fodder substances, and leading farm 

 crops. 



The details of these investigations form the principal por- 

 tion of the report of the chemist. This report contains also 

 some statements regarding previous examinations, which 

 have not been published in full in any State report, and, 

 judging from frequent inquiries received, will prove of 

 interest to some of the friends of progressive agriculture. 



It has been the aim, in the management of the work of the 

 Station, to meet promptly the direct applications of farmers' 

 clubs, and the temporary wants of the farming community, 

 and to prepare, as fast as circumstances enabled, and the 

 thoroughness of the future work admitted, for experiments 

 in field and barn. 



Much work has been accomplished in both directions. 

 Analyses of the drainage waters of the underdrained experi- 

 mental plats, and of the crops raised upon the latter, as well 

 as those raised on the remaining fields of the station, have 

 been made, to serve as a basis for field and feeding expert- 



