1914.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 13 a 



in order to determine more fully the ultimate effects upon the 

 apple, which is a very long-lived tree. We already know that 

 the present owner (who has purchased the property since we 

 hired it) will not renew at any figure which the station can 

 afford to pay. We shall find ourselves, therefore, three years 

 hence, compelled to turn over to the owner a piece of property 

 worth several times what it was when we leased it, having mean- 

 while paid the former owner and to the present one a total sum 

 considerably in excess of the value when the land came under 

 our management. 



The situation as affecting the Concord land, planted to aspara- 

 gus (also a long-lived crop), is from a business point of view 

 entirely similar ; but as the lease of this land is indeterminate 

 it is yet worse from an experimental viewpoint, for the owner 

 may terminate the lease at any time. Fortunately, such action 

 on his part is not now anticipated, for he is very greatly in- 

 terested in the experiment ; but we are entirely dependent upon 

 his good will. 



Another point to be considered is that the value of areas 

 suitable for our needs is steadily appreciating. Land can 

 probably never be bought at lower prices than now. It would 

 seem the part of wisdom to take early action. 



!N^ot only do sound business considerations urge this course, 

 but the need becomes every year more desperate as the area 

 which has been available for station use is more and more en- 

 croached upon as the result of the growth of the educational 

 side of the institution. The location of buildings has already 

 rendered far less valuable or entirely valueless for our use three 

 fields in which important lines of inquiry were in progress, and 

 other locations which will have a similar effect are in prospect. 



Still another point has an important relation to our need. 

 With the great increase in the number of students who room in 

 all parts of the town, and with the erection of new buildings in 

 different parts of the campus between which large numbers of 

 students must pass in going to and from classes, it has become 

 almost impossible to prevent trespass, as a student in a hurry 

 is disposed to cut corners, which means crossing the plots. It 

 seems to the director, and to all members of the station staff 



