New YorK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. ry 
sioned by the fire in 1902 have been replaced, with the. excep- 
tion of a building for the storage of farm machinery and grain. 
Through an appropriation of $4,500, made by the Legislature of 
1904, this building is now in process of construction, and when 
this is comoleted the Station will be better eqnipped with Luild-. 
ings of all kinds than ever before in its history. 
GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS. 
For some time subsequent to the fire of 1992, the grounds uf 
the Station presented a somewhat unattractive appearance, due 
in part to the unsightly foundations of the burned buildings and 
the clutter attendant upon building operations. Such conditions 
no longer exist. The new buildings are in place, old buildings 
are removed, a large amount of necessary grading has been done, 
all the buildings have been newly painted in more desirable colors 
and the appearance of the whole institution is now so attractive 
that it is easy to regard the fire as a fortunate occurrence. 
HOUSES FOR THE STATION STAFF. 
The building equipment of the Station now provides for the 
housing of five families belonging to the Station staff. Under 
the conditions at present prevailing the homes of the staff are 
widely scattered. The married members, other than those pro- 
vided for on the Station grounds, live in various ;1ts of the 
city in rented houses. There is involved in this arrangement a 
ereat deal of uncertainty as to permanence and desirability of 
location. It is also often inconvenient and it certain!7 makes 
exceedingly difficult and impossible, almost, that soal unity 
which should prevail at such an institution and which is a large 
factor in its spirit and success. The desirability and attractive- 
ness of any salaried position are to a very large degree deter 
mined by social relations and by the environment and influences 
which surround the home. In view of the fact that there is an 
almost continuous effort to draw away from the Station its best 
men, sometimes successfully, it would seem to be a good policy 
to do /all that is possible to render positions at the Experiment 
Station so attractive that efficient and useful men shall not be 
drawn away. It is fair to raise the question, therefore, whether, 
if it is not inconsistent with the established policy of the State, 
several more houses should not be erected on the Station grounds, 
