finances would permit. I accordingly sent a copy of tlie following 

 letter to the President of each of the following County Agricultural 

 Societies: Rarnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin. Hamp- 

 shire, Hampden, Middlesex, Plymouth and Worcester : 



"I am desirous of inaugurating this year a system of local soil tests 

 with fertilizers, to be carried out under ray supervision by selected 

 farmers in the different counties. Similar tests have been carried 

 out in several states, and a conference of experiment station workers 

 in Washington in March of this year, which was called to consider the 

 subject, unanimously decided in favor of inaugurating such soil tests 

 upon one uniform plan in as many states as possible. 



Without at this time entering into details, I may say that the object 

 especiall}' aimed at in these tests is to find out the particular fertilizer 

 requirements of the soils of diffei-ent localities. It is recognized that, 

 however valuable the results obtained in experiments of this particu- 

 lar kind at this station may be for this locality, such results may be 

 inapplicable to other localities. 



It is proposed for this year at least that this station shall pay all 

 expenses of such tests, furnishing fertilizers, seeds and whatever else 

 may be necessary, and paying a fair price for the work of carrying 

 them out. The station, through myself or m}' assistant, will super- 

 vise the experiments and we reserve control of the results ; all rights 

 of publication and discussion shall be ours. 



The area required for each test is one acre ; tiie crop pro[)osed for 

 this year is corn. The harvest with the exception of such small 

 samples as we may take is to belong to the farmer. 



The best soil for the purpose is one which represents best the 

 average conditions in your county, which is level or of uniform 

 moderate slope, of uniform and low fertility and now in grass. Upon 

 the proper selection of the locality and the soil and still more upon 

 the selection of the man to carr3' out the work our success depends ; 

 and believing that your society will be willing to co-operate in this 

 work I have addressed you this note which I send also to the presi- 

 dents of the other county societies. 



The funds available will allow me to undertake but one experiment 

 in each county and I shall be pleased to hear what you think of the 

 plan. In the event of your favorable consideration, my assistant 

 will soon visit you to co-operate in the selection of the place and the 

 man and to arrange the necessary details." 



This letter elicited a favorable response from every man addressed ; 



