406 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



growth of nature study and extension work and the recent establish- 

 ment of a chair of university extension at Cornell University. The 

 work of the station horticulturists as evidenced by their publications 

 was classified, showing- that much the largest amount of the printed 

 matter, aggregating nearly one-fourth, related to variety testing, horti- 

 cultural methods and management ranking second. In reply to the 

 question as to the lines of investigation considered of most importance, 

 the opinions of 44 horticulturists were summarized, bringing out the 

 fact that opinion is at present about equally divided in regard to the 

 importance of plant breeding and variety testing. "There is undoul)t- 

 edh' greater need for variety testing in some sections than in others. 

 In those States where horticultural interests have become well estab- 

 lished it is vastly more important to understand more fully the scien- 

 tific basis of horticultural operations than it is to increase the list of 

 horticultural varieties which are adapted to those sections." Pro- 

 fessor Beach referred to the frequent pressure on the horticulturists to 

 do work of a more popular character, and the numerous demands made 

 upon their time and f imds for work which is not strictl}' experimental, 

 showing that in many cases real investigation was practically pre- 

 cluded by the conditions imposed. He urged greater opportunities, 

 in the way of time, funds, and competent assistants, for conducting 

 more scientific investigations in horticulture. 



In the report of the section on entomology H. Garman I'eviewed the' 

 present condition of entomological work at the colleges and experi- 

 ment stations, indicating that much progress is being made in the 

 specialization of the work of entomologists and in the improvement of 

 facilities for research and instruction. About [)() per cent of the col- 

 leges and stations now emplo}^ entomologists. He noted the growth 

 in recent years in the amount of inspection work required of station 

 entomologists and discussed the best methods of managing this work. 

 It was shown that the inspection of nurseries has led to the exercise 

 of greater care on the part of nurserymen, which has diminished the 

 prevalence of all kinds of injurious insects. The necessity for efli- 

 cient assistants, especiall}^ where inspection work is carried on, was 

 emphasized. 



The report of the section on mechanic arts was read by C. S. Murk- 

 land. This traced the growth and popularity of the mechanic arts 

 department of the colleges, and pointed out the present relative sig- 

 nificance of its courses and the limitations of its work. 



The committee on the collective experiment station exhibit at the 

 Paris P^xposition made its final report through H. P. Armsb}", its 

 chairman. This report described the plan of the exhibit, its prepara- 

 tion and installation, and recommended that the exhibit be kept intact 

 and installed as a permanent exhibit at some place in Washington. 

 The informal report which has been received of the recommendations 



