248 ANNUAL REPORT. 



In Massachusetts the station was founded in 1882, $5,000 being annually appro- 

 priated. It is located at Amherst, the laboratory and about eighteen acres of land- 

 being furnisbed by the college at that place. Among subjects of investigation are 

 fertilizers, plant diseases, stock feeding, insects, etc. 



In Ohio the experiment station was established at the State University in 1882, 

 $5,000 per anum being appropriated for expenses. The experiments both in the 

 field and laboratory deal with grain raising, stock raising, dairying, horticulture, 

 forestry, etc. Bulletins are prepared for the agricultural press and annual reports 

 are printed at the expense of the state. 



In Wisconsin the experiment station was established in 1883 and connected with 

 the State University. The farm, consisting of 125 acres with barns, dairy, fruit 

 plantations, etc., which belong to the department of Agriculture of the University, 

 are all at the service of the station. About $6,000 are annually expended. The 

 scientific corps of the station consist of the professors of agriculture, botany and 

 chemistry, with one assistant. Bulletins are published from time to time and 

 annual reports made at the expense of the state. 



In California the experiment station is supported by direct provision of the legis- 

 lature and is connected with the agricultural department of the State University. 

 About fifteen acres of the University farm are used, and about $7,500 have been 

 expended in fitting up the grounds and the laborator3^ Attention has been given 

 to the analysis and classification of soils, irrigation and to viticultural investigations. 

 Annual reports are made and weekly bulletins sent out to the agricultural press. 



In Georgia a small experiment station has been established at Athens, and 

 grounds have been purchased and fitted up at an expense of $30,000. Chief atten- 

 tion is paid to cotton and cotton growing. 



As to what is being done in this line of work in Minnesota [ refer you to the very 

 interesting report of Prof. E. D. Porter, in charge of theory and practice of Agri- 

 culture, at the State University, and superintendent of the State Agricultural farm. 



In the report alluded to Prof. Forbes defines the agricultural station as "An 

 agency intended to determine the conditions of the best success in agriculture un-. 

 der existing circumstances, applying to the numerous and complicated questions 

 involving the strictest methods of modern science, and putting the results arrived 

 at in so clear, definite, and exact a form that no intelligent farmer. can fail to com- 

 prehend them, or refuse to acknowledge their force. It substitutes skill, method, 

 accurate record, elaborate scientific experiment, for the irregular, indefinite, un- 

 certain, inaccurate, hap-hazzard individual method of agricultural observation and 

 experiment- now generally prevalent." 



What has been said upon this .subject would seem to indicate the necessity as 

 well as utility of experimentation, not only in departments of agriculture in general 

 but also in horticultural work and investigation. In this age of wondrous inven- 

 tions, important and often startling discoveries, we want more specialists, — those 

 who make a particular subject a study, and who, after becoming thoroughly in- 

 formed themselves, may readily impart information to others. 



If the State of New York can annually appropriate and expend the sum of $20,- 

 000 for judicious and profitable experiments to be made by their agricultural station 

 may there not be need of provision being made for corresponding work in Minne- 



