No. 4.] EXPERIMENTS AND STATION WORK. 177 



REPOET OF COMMITTEE ON EXPEEIMENTS AND 

 STATION WORK. 



[Read and accepted at the Annual Meeting, Jan. 7, 1908.] 



The improvements so far made at the college must be a 

 great help to the experiment department, and evidently should 

 be continued. A new, modern greenhouse is much needed. 

 When we consider the commercial value of the products of 

 the market-garden branch of agriculture in this State, we 

 are convinced that trained men are needed for the practical 

 work, and that the latest and best tools should be furnished 

 for their use. A short winter term at the station would be 

 beneficial. 



In the entomological department, the increasing number 

 of students seeking admission, and the lack of room to ac- 

 commodate all applicants, show clearly the need of a larger 

 building, as well as safer protection for the fine collection 

 of specimens. This department has investigated the so-called 

 oriental moth, which has appeared in Dorchester ; and, while 

 it has not yet increased in alarming proportions, it should 

 be speedily stamped out where located. 



We still believe the orchard to be one of the best paying 

 assets of the farm, provided the trees are properly cultivated 

 and cared for. The prevailing insect pests are a serious 

 drawback, and our experimenters are laboring to provide 

 preventives. There is also a discouraging amount of depre- 

 dation from hoodlum boys, which has greatly increased of 

 late, and after the labors of a whole season these ruthless 

 invaders frequently steal or injure most of the orchard's 

 results. Moral law having no effect, civil law should step 

 in to check the tide of thieving, if possible ; and the parents, 

 being often the receivers of stolen fruit, should be held in a 



