1914.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 9 a 



Thus far it has been the policy in this station, as it is in most, 

 to send publications on request to citizens of other States. This 

 is sound policy from the standpoint of publication efficiency, 

 and fully justified by the fact that a large share of the funds 

 for the support of our experiment stations comes from the fed- 

 eral treasury. The fullest reciprocity is desirable, for in most 

 cases results obtained in one State find almost equal applica- 

 tion in numerous others. 



Still another cause of increased demand is found in connec- 

 tion with schools which teach agriculture, which, in not a few 

 cases, make use of bulletins in their class work, for which pur- 

 pose a large number of duplicate copies is often requested. It 

 has thus far been our policy to meet this demand also when 

 possible. 



If we are to continue in the future the generous policy of the 

 past, and to meet the increasing demands which have been re- 

 ferred to, it will become necessary either to greatly increase the 

 expenditure for publication or to curtail circulation in certain 

 directions. It is believed that the latter course can be followed 

 without disadvantage to any real interest. A careful study of 

 the situation as affected by the existing law governing the pub- 

 lication of our annual reports has led to the conclusion that 

 there is wasteful circulation and some duplication, resulting 

 from the inclusion of the formal technical parts of our reports 

 in the annual reports of the secretary of our State Board of 

 Agriculture ; and a plan which shall at the same time avoid such 

 waste and duplication and bring our method of publication into 

 conformity with the plan recommended by the American Asso- 

 ciation of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations has 

 been embodied in an amended act which will be brought before 

 the Legislature of 191-i. The act as amended leaves the de- 

 termination of the size of the editions, within a specified maxi- 

 mum, to the director, who will be able to adapt any edition to 

 the prospective demand, which varies widely for different pub- 

 lications. The advantages of the act as amended are so clear 

 that its passage is confidently looked for.^ 



A list of such of our publications as can still be sent on re- 

 quest will be found on page 7a. 



' This act was passed before the date of printing. 



