48 Department of Soils. 



proximately 496 square miles in the former area and 284 square miles 

 in the latter area. The completion of this work and the preparation 

 of the reports will run into the next fiscal year. 



(3) Experimental. Under the head of co-operative experiments, a 

 number of farmers in the State have undertaken work with fertilizers 

 and methods of tillage. About 18 men have taken up work at the 

 suggestion of the College. 



A more close type of co-operative experimentation was taken up 

 within the year with Mr. W. B. Howland, of Orange county, New 

 York, who owns a farm, a large part of which is muck soil, on which 

 he desires to grow onions. Because there are large areas of such 

 soil in the State similarly situated, from which the question of fer- 

 tilizer requirements for the best and most economical growth of cer- 

 tain crops arises, it seemed best to establish an extensive series of 

 fertilizer experiments. The work is under the immediate supervision 

 of this department. It consists of 54 one-tenth-acre plots on which 

 . onions are grown. It is expected to continue the study for five years, 

 when the data may be published. Although the season has been very 

 adverse, some very interesting results have been obtained. 



(4) Publications. A bulletin of 40 pages, dealing with Drainage in 

 New York State, was published in May. 



Equipment. 



Owing to the occupancy of the new agricultural buildings within 

 the year, the laboratory facilities of the department have been much 

 extended and many new pieces of apparatus for the study of soils 

 have been installed. 



Enlargement of the Work. 



There are many lines along which the work of the department may 

 be expanded and improved when funds are available. In the teach- 

 ing work, a new course in Irrigation and Drainage should be given, 

 with facilities for demonstration and laboratory study. Some work 

 along these lines is now given in the regular courses. The proposed 

 new greenhouses will meet these needs only in part. 



A number of pieces of apparatus are needed in the laboratories 

 to make them entirely adequate for the needs of student work, and 

 there is much illustrative material, the accession of which would 

 materially strengthen the teaching in the department. 



On the extension side, there is even greater need for more work. 

 The soil survey should be pushed to completion with increased 

 rapidity, and with it other lines of investigation should be taken up. 



