18 EEPOET OF OFFICE OF EXPEKIMENT STATIONS. 



of stations, in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry, is 

 engaged in investigations on the breeding of varieties of cereals adapted 

 to the Northwest. In other cases a single station is sufficiently aided 

 by the Department to enable it to undertake the thorough treatment 

 of problems in a special line. Thus the Pennsylvania Station, in coop- 

 eration with the Bureau of Animal Industry, is preparing to make 

 elaborate researches in animal nutrition, and for this purpose has devised 

 and built a respiration calorimeter for experiments with large animals, 

 which in size and complexity surpasses any apparatus hitherto used 

 for such experiments. In other cases, two or more branches of the 

 Department combine to work in conjunction with a station on some 

 complex problem. Plans are now being made, for example, for an 

 extensive experiment on the problems of range conservation and 

 improvement, in which the Arizona Station will unite with the Bureaus 

 of Forestry and Plant Industry and the Office of Experiment Stations 

 (irrigation investigations). It is evident that a very great variety of 

 effective combinations can be made which will result in a union of 

 forces thoroughly acquainted with local conditions with those having 

 broad views and relations. Such a strong combination of forces for 

 attacking the problems of agriculture exists nowhere else. It is believed, 

 therefore, that largely increased benefits will soon accrue to our agri- 

 culture from this union of the stations with the Department. At the 

 same time the stations were never so strong locally, and are better 

 equipped than ever before to work by themselves on problems of imme- 

 diate importance to their own, constituencies. 



The records of this Office show that the Department is at present 

 cooperating with the stations in 43 States and Territories. Among 

 the subjects on which cooperative investigations are being conducted 

 are the following: Tests of varieties of grasses and forage plants in 

 many localities; special experiments with grasses and forage plants 

 for the arid region and the improvement of range lands; breeding 

 experiments with plants, especially cereals; experiments with hybrid 

 orange trees; the culture of sugar beets, dates, and tobacco; planting 

 forest trees; the nutrition of farm animals and man; the gluten con- 

 tent of wheat; plants poisonous to stock; soil investigations; inju- 

 rious insects, especially the codling moth and locust, and irrigation 

 investigation. 



EXPANSION OF STATE AID TO THE EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



With the aid of funds given by the States, buildings have been 

 erected during the past year at a number of the agricultural colleges, 

 which will be used in whole or in part by the experiment stations. 

 Wyoming has just completed a new science hall at a cost of $35,000. 

 The New York State Station has erected a residence for the director 

 and is now expending about $8,500 in remodeling the old residence 



