ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT 



STATION — 1932 



INTRODUCTION 

 F. J. Sievers, Director 



The year 1932 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 Experiment Station which was provided for by legislative act and founded in 1882. 

 In common with similar institutions established at about the same date in several 

 other states, the Massachusetts Station has a history covering a half century of 

 service to the American people. The influence of this service on the control of 

 insect pests, the prevention and cure of plant and animal diseases, the better 

 utilization of farm products, the more scientific management of soil, the more 

 systematic and economic feeding and handling of plants and animals, and in 

 general the better management of the entire farm has had a profound expression 

 in the inauguration of greater efficiency in agriculture and therefore, indirectly, 

 in all industry. Increased efficiency as a rule results in the establishment of a 

 so-called higher standard of living and a consequent demand for products and 

 services beyond those required for a bare existence. In agriculture it has resulted, 

 also, in a decrease in the labor necessary to maintain the same volume of produc- 

 tion, thus affording an opportunity for the employment of this released labor in 

 other industries and thereby providing for the many so-called lu.xuries of which 

 the automobile, radio, good roads, better housing and heating facilities, and more 

 liberal provision for education are good examples. For the enjoyment of luxuries 

 a certain amount of leisure is required, and fortunately for the American public, 

 the demand for luxuries and the leisure and income necessary to enjoy them kept 

 fairly uniform pace. Industry boomed, jobs were plentiful, confidence was abun- 

 dant, and credit unexcelled. Recently, however, when these major factors, which 

 require equilibrium for our successful operation, became unbalanced or dispro- 

 portionate we experienced an upset in our entire social and economic structure, 

 with the result that at present many of us find ourselves either with more leisure 

 than we can afford, or with more luxuries than our income can support. This 

 fundamental weakness in our social and economic relationships can be permanently 

 corrected only by recognizing the basic causes and dealing with them boldly and 

 without fear or prejudice. This country is adequately supplied, yes, if not over- 

 supplied, with all of the essentials of life. There is no universal lack of food, 

 clothing, shelter, and, last but not least, of human energy ready and willing to 

 apply itself. It is quite generally agreed that we suffer as individuals because of 

 inadequate distribution of an abundant supply of these essentials. Food is not 

 available where hunger exists. Clothing and good shelter are not accessible to 

 those suffering from exposure. But most fundamental of all is the lack of proper 

 distribution of labor or of the opportunity for all willing workers to make a living. 

 To right this condition requires not only courageous research, but a program free 

 from bias. 



Of all agencies organized for public service there is none which should be better 

 equipped as regards experienced personnel than the agricultural experiment sta- 

 tions. These institutions, because of their habit and experience in approaching 

 without partiality problems requiring research, and also because of their record 



