REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 13 



stations would doubtless prefer to strengthen them rather than create 

 duplicates, and should be allowed by the law to do so; and it is cer- 

 tainly to be hoped that in States where the agricultural-college funds 

 from the land grant of 1862 have been absorbed by institutions which 

 have shown no desire to conform to the spirit of that law, the people 

 will not permit their legislators to repeat the former blunder, but 

 require them to create a bona-fide station, regardless of the merely 

 nominal agricultural college existing. The bill as drawn allows only 

 one-fifth ($3,000) of the first year's appropriation to be expended for 

 buildings, repairs, &c. , and only $750 annually thereafter. Consid- 

 ering the necessary expenses, especially in starting a station where 

 nothing of the kind exists, this allowance is quite inadequate, and 

 the restriction might defeat the object of the law. For buildings 

 and repairs $5,000 should be allowed the first year and the second, 

 and at least $1,000 annually thereafter. The buildings of the Mas- 

 sachusetts station, neither extravagant nor large, cost a good deal 

 over $10,000, and, although models of their kind, and sufficient for 

 the present income, would have to be enlarged with the extended 

 operations made possible by the proposed Federal endowment. These 

 and minor amendments are desirable, but the principle of the pend- 

 ing bill is right, and all friends of agricultural progress in America 

 should unite in urging its passage. 



With an agricultural-experiment station in every State, well 

 equipped, ably managed, and liberally supported, the work would be 

 still incomplete. To prevent useless and wasteful duplications and 

 repetitions, and to secure co-operation and concerted action when 

 needed, there must be a central station or office, and the natural place 

 for this is at Washington. The center for the work should not, and 

 indeed could not, dictate or control the operations of the State sta- 

 tions, but it could and should be of great service in harmonizing, uni- 

 fying, and economizing the whole. If such central office did nothing 

 more than serve as a medium of communication between the State 

 stations — a sort of clearing-house, keeping every one informed as to 

 the operations, progress, and results of all the others — it would still 

 be indispensable, and a station of equal importance with the others. 

 But, in addition, the central station should receive, criticise, digest, 

 edit, and consolidate the results obtained at the various stations, and 

 periodically promulgate the same in a form suited to popular under- 

 standing and application. 



T,he "experiment-station bill" before Congress provided but par- 

 tially for this important service to be performed at the Department 

 of Agriculture. A vital omission is the failure to make special appro- 

 priation for the purpose. The already overtaxed clerical force of this 

 constantly growing Department could not properly perform this ad- 

 ditional duty. A new office or division is necessary, with a chief 

 equal in ability to the directors of the State stations, and competent 



