22 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



of our editions should be increased, but under existing appro- 

 priations this is imjoossible. 



A committee of the American Association of Agricultural 

 Colleges and Experiment Stations, after a most careful study of 

 the whole subject of station publications, has recently made a 

 report strongly urging, among other things, that, with a view to 

 making provision for future demands, station publications 

 should be electrotyped when issued. The adoption of this course 

 now does not seem to me to be our most pressing necessity, but 

 some such provision in the near future will no doubt be de- 

 sirable. 



The demand for general bulletins of information, referred to 

 at some length in my last report, shows no sign of abatement. 

 On the contrary, it is ever increasing. The information which 

 may be furnished by such bulletins is greatly needed. Could 

 it be placed in the hands of persons calling for it, marked im- 

 provement in agricultural methods might be confidently antici- 

 pated. I believe, however, that this demand should be chiefly 

 met by private enterprise. Certainly it cannot be met by the 

 station without special provision to cover its costs. Meeting it, 

 however, would seem to be in the nature of extension rather 

 than experimental work, and therefore, under the modern 

 conception of respective functions, jierhaps belongs rather to the 

 college than to the station. 



Letters of Inquiry. 

 The number of letters of inquiry annually received in the 

 different departments of the experiment station continues to in- 

 crease. During the past year the total number of such letters 

 received and answered was 6,500. Attention to these letters con- 

 sumes a very considerable proportion of the time and energy of 

 members of the station staff, thus materially curtailing the 

 amount of attention which can be given to investigation. The 

 numerous letters of acknowledgment received from corre- 

 spondents receiving suggestions and advice make it ai)parent 

 that the assistance which the station is able to render by an- 

 swering these letters is appreciated. The amount of work of 

 this character which the public will call upon the Massachu- 



