12 liEPOirr OF the commissioner of agriculture. 



Tlio coin-stalks were of three varieties, viz., Lindsay's Horse Tootb, 

 White luipi'oveil Prolific, and White Dent, three coarse-growing white 

 field corns. The stalks gxew in drills three feet apart and about nine 

 ' or ten inches in the row. 



The ears were plucked after they had thoronghly ripened and the 

 husks were dead and dry; the stalks, however, were yet juicy. The 

 corn was plump and sound and yielded at the rate of G9.1 bushels of 

 shelled corn, fifty-six pounds to the bushel, to the acre. The stalks 

 were then topped, strippetl, and crushed, and the juice proved to be the 

 best yet obtained from corn-stalks at any period of growth or of any 

 variety. It is exceedingly to be regretted that this department had not 

 during the past season an opportunity to try these experiments in the 

 large and jiraetical way of field cultivation which would have been 

 befitting the importance of the occasion. Kot less than an acre, and 

 preferably five acres, of each variety of sorghum and maize experimented 

 with should be grown and its developments should be watched carefully 

 with the aid of all the appliances of science, throughout the season and 

 worked up at tlie proper time with the best machinery attainable, and 

 it is hoped that a matter of so much importance will receive such atten- 

 tion at the hands of Congress as will enable the department to proi)erly 

 discharge its duties to the country in this regard. 



With the present grounds and laboratory force at the command of the 

 department this is impossible. Tlie correspondence upon matters perti- 

 nent to the Cliemical Division has increased so largely that with the 

 present force it is impossible to give it the attention which it demands. 

 The amount of work which has accumulated in advance of the means to 

 accomplish it shi>ws how promi)tiy and gladly our people would avail 

 themselves of the advantages which a proper enlargement of the division 

 would afford. The legitimate work which lias already accumulated and 

 which is mapped out for the Chemical Division would emx)Ioy the present 

 force for years. 



ENTO:\rOLOGICAL DIVISION. 



On the retirement of Prof. C. V. Riley, May 1st, the department was 

 fortunate in obtaining the services of Prof. J. JI. Comstock, of Corucil 

 TJnivcrsity, concerning w^hosn the President of the university, Hon. An- 

 drew D. White, wrote : 



• He seems to me, iu every respect fitted to discliarge the duties usefully to the piil/iio 

 service and satisfactorily to yourself. He has most tliorougli scieutific artainiiUMsls, 

 great energy, pleasant address, excellent temper, and is certainly destined soon to bo 

 a recognized authority in his department throughout the world as he now is over a 

 considerable part of this country. Nothing but a sense of duty to him leads me to 

 write this letter. * * * As it is, I hope to reclaim him some day. As to chtiracter, 

 temper, relations -vviLh scientific people, he is all that could he desired. 



It is sufficient to say that Professor Comstock's studies have fitted liini 

 for the position, and under his direction the Entomological Division has 

 made notable advance in its appropriate investigations, and thus far the 

 high recommendation of President White has been entirely sustained. 



