334 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Service in the dissemination of useful knowledge. A set of 

 ordinary meteorological instruments, uniform with those in 

 use at Washington, have been placed in a suitably con- 

 structed and advantageously located little wooden structure, 

 in the vicinity of the farm-house. As the record kept dur- 

 ing past years upon the grounds has been incomplete, for 

 want of suitable instruments, we have availed ourselves of 

 the kindness of Miss S. C. Snell of Amherst, and insert a 

 copy of her last year's weather record. In addition to this 

 particular favor she has kindly consented to a copying of the 

 entire elaborated weather record of her distinguished father, 

 the late Prof. E. S. Snell of Amherst, Mass., which extended 

 over nearly fifty years, and is one of the most valuable 

 weather records within the United States. The copy of this 

 record will be made with particular reference to the months 

 of April and May and August and September, to meet the 

 special interests of the farmers. 



A consideration of the above enumeration of the work 

 undertaken at the station during the past year, may show 

 that it has been the aim to meet, as far as practicable, the 

 purpose for which this institution has been established. The 

 various directions in which experimental inquiries, thus far, 

 have been inaugurated, it will be conceded, are of first im- 

 portance, and open an extensive field for investigation. Some 

 experiments promise valuable results at an early date, and 

 others necessitate years of systematic observation ; none of 

 them can be neglected for any length of time without serious 

 consquences to our farm industry. The work thus far out- 

 lined represents at best but a limited selection of subjects, 

 resardino; which better information is essential for a success- 

 ful advancement of the best interest of our formers. 



To carry on any investigation in the field, the barn and 

 the laboratory requires time, skill and pecuniary means. Ex- 

 perience teaches that first expenses for inaugurating a series 

 of experiments are quite frequently comparatively small, and 

 the necessity for skilful assistants less imperative, than when 

 the work becomes more intricate in its advance, and calls 

 for exceptional accommodations, more complicated and ex- 

 pensive apparatus, and a more liberal supply of skilled 

 assistance. 



