ANNUAL REPORT, 1938 5 



consumer cannot afford to buy fresh vegetables at the price demanded. Even- 

 tually we may become convinced of some of the extravagances of a system that is 

 directed solely by the profit motive, and then agencies which are primarily con- 

 cerned with general public welfare will gradually assume a greater degree of 

 leadership in providing a solution for these fundamental problems. 



During the last year the Lang Fund was increased by an additional $2,000 

 b}' Mrs. Henry Lang, the original donor, thus bringing the total support from 

 this source to $12,000. The research made possible by this fund has served to 

 advance our knowledge in human nutrition at a time when there is a distinct 

 need for reliable information in a field where there is so much confused thinking 

 because of the high-powered advertising behind numerous nostrums recommended 

 as curatives for nutritional disorders or deficiencies. 



Increases in financial support from Bankhead-Jones (Federal) sources have 

 been available for the last four years but these will terminate with June 30, 1940, 

 after which the Massachusetts Experiment Station will receive a total apportion- 

 ment of approximately $20,000 annually from this source. It is hoped that this 

 federal support will, in part, serve to promote certain new and much desired 

 services for which adequate state funds have not been available. Such organized 

 groups as the poultrymen, the greenkeepers, and the arborists, all of whom are 

 convinced of the worthiness of their case, are very insistent in their demands for 

 research. 



The poultry industry is in real need for authentic information regarding the 

 merits of the numerous and specific claims of manufacturers of poultry feeds. 

 This phase of the subject has reached such prominence that recent findings have 

 forced modifications in the regulatory laws in some states and it is highly des- 

 irable that Massachusetts should keep abreast in this field and be ready to make 

 her proportionate contribution to the general demand for a sounder basis for 

 the evaluation of livestock feeds. 



The greenkeepers suffered temporary disappointment in failing to gain fav- 

 orable legislative action on a request for funds adequate to support research in 

 turf management. The need for this service was felt so keenly, however, that 

 their Association made available a small sum of money to initiate research while 

 anticipated legislative action is pending. 



The demands of the arborists have been satisfied to a considerable degree 

 through the enlarged facilities for nursery culture studies and it is hoped that the 

 problems of the arborists and nurserymen may be correlated sufficiently to be 

 dealt with under the same research procedure. 



The completed Nutrition Laboratory is serving as a real clearing house for the 

 type of departmental cooperation that any sound program in this specialized 

 field requires. The physical plant and its equipment provide the flexibility 

 necessary to encourage several departments to utilize these facilities to their full 

 capacity. 



At the Cranberry Station, through special funds provided by the Cape Cod 

 Cranberry Growers' Association, it has been possible to continue work in weed 

 control and also to inaugurate investigations in fruit storage. The increased 

 interest not only in blueberries and strawberries but more recently in beach plums 

 is exerting tremendous pressure for expansion in our activities which will need 

 to be met either through additional financial support or through lesser emphasis 

 on research now under wav in other fields. 



