414 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



late professor of botany at the University of Indiana, Bloom- 

 ington, Ind., was elected to the professorship of vegetable 

 physiology, and entered upon his duties Nov. 1, 1888. A 

 desirable increase of assistance in the chemical department 

 of the Station for the coming year will be provided by some 

 members of the senior class of the Agricultural College, who 

 are already in training at the Station. 



The work carried on during the past year has been in the 

 main in three directions, namely : to determine the cost of 

 food for the production of milk and pork, field experiments 

 with different kinds of farm crops, and chemical examina- 

 tions of a variety of substances of interest to farmers. The 

 results of the season are, on the whole, quite satisfactory. 

 Unfavorable weather during a considerable part of summer 

 and autumn interfered at times, somewhat, with a more 

 general success in field experiments, yet not in a sufficient 

 degree to question seriously the previous statement. 



The chemical laboratory has received a valuable addition 

 of necessary apparatus. The library of the Station has been 

 enriched by the addition of books and journals needed for 

 reference in the special lines of investigations instituted. 

 The stalls for feeding experiments have been enlarged in the 

 direction pointed out in the preceding annual report. Most 

 of the farm buildings are, as far as circumstances permit, in 

 a good state of preservation ; some of them, however, need 

 a new coat of paint. 



The chemical examinations in the laboratory have been in 

 various directions, and exceptionally numerous. Fodder 

 articles, fertilizers, products as well as refuse materials of 

 various industries, have been tested with reference to their 

 agricultural value. Much work has been done to determine 

 the sanitary conditions of water supply in small towns and 

 on farms. The resources of the chemical department have 

 been engaged to their full capacity to meet the growing call 

 for assistance on the part of our farming community. 



The work for the improvement of the farm lands has been 

 continued. Drill culture has been largely adopted for the 

 renovation of the lands, and green manuring has extensively 

 served to develop and economize inherent sources of plant 

 food. The area prepared for future field experiments has 



