938 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Porto Rico Station. — Several fanners' institutes held by the experiment station men 

 have attracted considerable attention and are considered very successful as a begin- 

 ning. The local press lias shown an appreciation of the benefits to be derived from 

 them and urges that more institutes he held. An insular horticultural society lias 

 been formed with a good following of intelligent planters, which will hold semi- 

 annual meetings at different towns. The Territorial legislature has passed a horti- 

 cultural quarantine law applying to the introduction of seeds, plants, etc., with an 

 appropriation of $500 for carrying out its provisions; and also a fertilizer law impos- 

 ing a tax of 25 cts. a ton. The execution of both of these laws has been placed in 

 the hands of the experiment station. The legislature also made an appropriation of 



ski. oho for the promotion of agriculture, w ith special reference to fiber plants, which 



is placed in the hands of the Territorial government. 



The station has secured possession of the old Spanish station comprising about 7 



acres of land adjoining the Federal station. This tract has the beginning of a good 

 irrigation system upon it. 



South Carolina College and Station. — John Michels, formerly of the Michigan Station, 

 who has recently been taking advanced work at Wisconsin University, has heen 



elected associate professor of animal husbandry at Clemson College and in charge of 

 animal husbandry and dairying in the station. He will enter upon his duties about 

 July 1. .1. M. Burgess, a graduate of the college, has accepted the position of assistant 

 in the division of animal husbandry, made vacant by the resignation of B. H. Rawl. 



Tennessee University. — A barn 40 by 46 ft. has heen built for the horticultural 

 department, which provides ample room for tools and horses, a seed room and a 

 potting room. During the year a small propagating house will be built. 



Vermont University. — A station of the United States Weather Bureau is to he estab- 

 lished at Burlington, on the university grounds, upon a lot which the trustees have 

 voted to deed to the Government for this purpose. It is expected that four officials 

 will he connected with the station — a director, two observers, and a student assistant; 

 and that the director will deliver lectures at the university. The proposed building, 

 which it is expected will he erected early in the summer, is to he 36 by 46 ft., built 

 of brick, and to consist of two stories with a basement, and a tower of moderate 

 height. It will he used as a dwelling house by the director, as well as for meteor- 

 ological work. 



Attempts are i>ein>_ r made at the station to develop varieties of potatoes resistant to 

 diseases. Seed tubers of several of the most promising European varieties imported 

 by Professor Jones and various wild species brought hack from Mexico by Mr. Pringle 

 will he used in this work. 



Virginia Station —The station, through its department of bacteriology, which is in 

 charge of Meade Ferguson, has undertaken to distribute inoculating material for 

 various leguminous crops to farmers in Virginia. A charge of L'octs. per acre is being 

 made for the material, which is being sent out for experimental purposes. The sta- 

 tion was prompted to undertake this work in order that the merits of soil inoculation 

 might l>e tested in all parts of the State, and also that farmers might secure inocu- 

 lating material at reasonable rates. 



Wyoming University. — The legislature has provided tor the establishment of a State 

 hoard of horticulture, of which the professor of botany and /.oology in the university 

 is made an ex-officio member, and also forthe licensing of nurseries doing business in 

 Wyoming, and for the appointment of inspectors to examine nursery stock shipped 

 into tli • State. No regulations of this kind have previously existed in the State. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. — The following appointments have heen made 

 in the Irrigation and Drainage Investigations of this O.ffice: S. M. Woodward, of 

 the University of Iowa, irrigation engineer, with headquarters in Washington, D. C. ; 

 F. C. Herrmann, irrigation engineer in charge of the Cheyenne office; W. B. Gregory, 



