1914.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 15 a 



]\Ioreover, the high prices now ruling for meats make it seem 

 highly probable that the time has come when, with intelligent 

 improvement of pastures, the State might wisely produce a 

 much larger share of the meat consumed by its inhabitants. 

 It seems entirely possible that steers and sheep can be profitably 

 fattened in the State even if they can be reared to tJie fattening 

 age more cheaply in other parts of the country. There is, how- 

 ever, a question whether even the production of well-bred stock 

 to the fattening age may not be successfully carried on. Our 

 soils and climate are admirably adapted to the production of 

 pasture forage. An appropriation for the purpose of under- 

 taking extensive demonstration experiments in pasture improve- 

 ment is highly desirable. 



The xIttitude of the Station toward Private Work. 



That the most important function of the experiment station 

 is the public service is generally recognized. It is also gen- 

 erally recogTiized that its principal work should be investigation, 

 with a view to gaining new knowledge of fundamental laws 

 and principles bearing upon the art of agriculture, and experi- 

 ment, which has for its object the discovery of new applications 

 of known laws and principles and better methods, both in the 

 practice and business transactions of the farm and garden. 

 The results of its investigations must of course be published and 

 disseminated. In addition, this experiment station is charged 

 with the execution of important control laws, — those relating 

 to the manufacture and sale of commercial fertilizers and com- 

 mercial feedstuffs, and the dairy law. 



The cost of the work connected with the execution of these 

 laws is covered by funds especially provided therefor. It 

 makes no draft upon the funds appropriated for investigation, 

 and the work is in the hands of a special staff which would 

 not otherwise be employed. This work, therefore, does not 

 lessen station capacity for investigation and experiment. On 

 the other hand, as has been pointed out under the topic " Main- 

 tenance," since unexpended balances are available for certain 

 kinds of experiment, our resources for investigation are some- 

 what increased because of the fact that the station is charged 

 with the execution of these laws. 



