10 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



not contiguous to the areas now used in our station work, is 

 sufficiently near to be fairly accessible, and while it exhibits 

 considerable variation in topography and character of soil, it is 

 very typical of Massachusetts conditions and possesses several 

 tracts sufficiently uniform to permit of subdivision into plots 

 which will be fairly adapted to our needs. The unimproved 

 pasture will afford opportunity for needed investigation in 

 methods of pasture treatment and improvement. 



The option on this property should most certainly be closed, 

 both because the land which it covers is the best suited to our 

 needs of anything within reasonable distance which can be pur- 

 chased, and because at the same time it is offered to the State 

 at a figure which is not above its value in |:he open market. 



For the purpose especially of accommodating growing stock 

 needed in our experimental work with poultry we should have 

 another tract of land at the earliest possible date. Looking 

 forward to the not distant future it is clearly apparent that in 

 the work of the poultry department some fifty to sixty acres 

 will be needed. The reasons why it is, practically speaking, 

 impossible to raise healthy stock in large numbers upon the 

 limited area at present available were stated in my last report 

 and it is unnecessary to repeat. It was found necessary last 

 season to lease a few acres of land to meet the most pressing 

 need, and the rent paid on the best terms that could be ob- 

 tained was far higher than w^e should be justified in continuing 

 permanently to pay. The need of the poultry department for 

 more land should certainly be provided for in the near future. 



The Market-gardening Interests. — Fuller provision for ex- 

 periments in the direct interests of the market gardeners of the 

 State was urged in my last annual report. The position taken 

 was that the employment of a man thoroughly familiar with 

 the industry and its requirements, a good observer, one quick 

 to detect abnormal crop conditions, and competent, at least in 

 case of many of the more common partial or complete crop 

 failures, to determine the causes, who should refer to the scien- 

 tific staff in the home laboratories such matters and materials 

 as needed scientific investigation, would fairly meet the most 

 pressing needs. 



It has been made possible during the past year to meet this 



