1909.J PUBLIC document—No. 31. 21 



fact that our public more and more looks to the station to 

 settle doubtful points and to give desired information and help 

 is gratifying; and until satisfactory, special provision can be 

 otherwise made for work of this kind, the members of the sta- 

 tion staif will gladly meet the demand to the best of their 

 ability. The circulars which have been elsewhere referred to 

 are proving of great assistance in meeting requests for infor- 

 mation and advice. 



In conclusion on this toj^ic I would like to enij)liasize these 

 points : — 



1. This work, from its very nature, is primarily for the 

 benefit of individuals and often of no general interest. Indi- 

 viduals therefore should refrain from sending inquiries which 

 can as well be answered by reference to standard works or to 

 other channels of information. 



2. It is impossible for station officials in most cases to give 

 business advice. They cannot know, for instance, whether A 

 can make the hen business profitable in the town of X ; nor 

 whether B will succeed in producing cranberries at a profit in 

 the marshes of the county of W. 



3. Letters of inquiry should refer to specific problems. It 

 is clearly not within the bounds of possibility to discuss general 

 problems with results satisfactory either to the writer or to the 

 receiver within the limits of a letter. A common type of let- 

 ter received runs somewhat as follows : — 



Dear Sir : — I have recently inherited [or purchased] a farm sit- 

 uated in the town of . This farm was formerly productive, but 



has been neglected and the soil is much exhausted. Will you not 

 kindly tell me how it may be so handled as to restore it to fertility and 

 at the same time return a profit to the owner? 



The discussion of the problems thus presented would involve 

 the whole field of agricultural science and practice. The prob- 

 lems are important and the need of the individual is great. It 

 cannot, however, be met through the channels of ordinary cor- 

 respondence. The most we can do is to refer to sources of in- 

 formation, or to advise either a short winter course or a corre- 

 spondence course in agriculture. 



