DIRECTOR'S REPORT. 



To the Honorable Board of Control of the New York Agricultural 

 Experiment station: 



Gentlemen: — I Imve the houor to present herewith the report 

 of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station for 1897. 



A statement of the eiforts and progress of the past year can be 

 no more fittingly prefaced than by an acknowledgment of the 

 earnest support and wise direction which you have given me as 

 your executive officer. I am sensible also of the loyal co-opera- 

 tion of the members of the Station staff in the prosecution of the 

 work which we have undertaken. Moreover, the press of the 

 State and the leaders of agricultural thought and practice have 

 given us most hearty and efficient assistance in securing the 

 means necessary to the development of our equipment; and I am 

 conscious that the intelligent agricultural masses have stood in 

 snch an attitude of sympathy towards this institution as to con- 

 stitute a strong stimulus to vigorous effort in their behalf. This 

 combination of favorable conditions has conspired to make the 

 record of the Station for the year 1897 one which it is pleasant 

 to review. 



In my report for 1896, attention was directed to the need of 

 strengthening the work of the Station at several important points. 

 The recommendations which I then made have met with your 

 approval and much has already been accomplished towards re-en- 

 foning old lines of effort and establishing those which are new. 



Addition to the Station Staff. 

 Editor and Librarian. — This most important position has been 

 filled by the selection of Frank H. Hall, B. S., formerly connected 

 with the Office of Experiment Stations in the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. 



*Rer.rint of Bulletin No. 142. 



