New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 15 



cultural practices. These inquiries relate chiefly to fertilizers, 

 crops, foods, dairy products, fruits, and injurious insects and 

 fungi. It is impossible to determine accurately the benefits of 

 this correspondence, but in some instances they are known not 

 to be insignificant. It is certainly proper that the Station should 

 serve as a bureau of information on a great variety of scientific 

 and practical subjects, and if it was more fully consulted the 

 farmers of the state would make fewer mistakes and suffer less 

 seriously from conditions that might be avoided. 



The mailing list. — There are now approximately 25,000 names 

 on the Station mailing list, chiefly of New York farmers 

 whose mail is received at nearly 2,300 postofQces. During 

 the year the postmasters of these ofiices were asked to 

 correct the lists of names of those to whom the Station 

 was sending its publications, and in that way several hun- 

 dred errors were discovered. The mailing list has for some 

 time been increasing rapidly and is now receiving generous ad- 

 ditions. It could be enlarged to enormous proportions by indis- 

 criminately adding names which might be obtained in various 

 ways, but it is believed to be wise to limit the additions to those 

 persons who are sufficiently interested to make a request for the 

 publications. 



The Future Work and Development of the Station. 



The New York Experiment Station was established nearly fif- 

 teen years ago and has, during its existence, gradually enlarged 

 its activities and influence. Notwithstanding the extent of its 

 work at the present time, it should not be imagined that there 

 is no further profitable development possible. Such development 

 is not only possible, but appears to be demanded by the condi- 

 tions and problems which face New York farmers. In urging 

 that the state enlarge the scope and increase the efficiency of the 

 Experiment Station, it is proper to review the considerations 

 which appear to justify this policy. Two questions are pertinent 

 in this connection: 



(1) Is it reasonable to regard the experiment station as a per- 

 manent and necessary adjunct of modern agriculture? 



