WORK AND EXPEXDITURES OF THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERI- 



M EXT STATIONS. 



By K. W. Allen. 

 REVIEW OF THE YEAR. 



Interest in various forms of agricultural experimentation and the 

 diffusion of results arising from it becomes more active and wide- 

 spread each year. This is noticeable in tlie attention which agricul- 

 tural experimentation attracts in the public press and i3opular maga- 

 zines, in the popularity of demonstration trains, in the establishment 

 of local experimental agencies, cooperative experimentation, and the 

 like, as well as in the larger appropriations which are being freely 

 granted for suitable buildings for the stations, for maintenance, and 

 for special lines of work. 



A feature of the popular interest in this movement is furnished by 

 the attitude of the railroads. Their interest in the promotion of 

 agriculture has been exemplified in various ways in the past by the 

 operation of trains over their lines for demonstration and institute 

 work, the giving of prizes and scholarships in agricultural colleges, 

 and in some cases in cooperation with the station authorities. Re- 

 cently one of the large railroads ojDerating in the East has purchased 

 a farm in the State of Delaware, to be used for demonstration pur- 

 poses to illustrate the renovation and utilization of farm land. In 

 addition, the experts in charge of the farm will take part in institute 

 work, furnish exhibits, and in other ways assist in the promotion of 

 better farming. The same road arranged a special trip for 24 of its 

 local station agents to the Peimsylvania College and Station, where 

 they spent a day in the study of agricultural matters of benefit to 

 the farmers in the districts tributary to their stations, and were 

 brought into closer touch with the work of the institution and the 

 means bv which farmers mav take advantage of it. 



The president of another large railroad system in the P^ast has 

 announced the policy of establisliing several demonstration farms to 

 indicate what can be done with reasonable expenditure and int«dligent 

 management on farms now largely out of commission. The road has 

 purchased one run-down farm for that piiri)ose and plans to buy 

 others in the near future. As these farms are brought up they will 

 be offered for sale and others purchased. A similar plan has been 



55 



