REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 



Changes in Staff. 



During' the past year there have been no changes in the more 

 important positions in the experiment station staff. A nnmber 

 of our younger assistants, however, have resigned for various 

 reasons, among v^^hich the offer of higher salaries, plans to pur- 

 sue graduate studies, or to engage in business are among the 

 more prominent. The changes in detail are as follows : — 



Sumner C. Brooks, B.Sc, assistant in botany, replaced by 

 Edward A. Larrabee, B.Sc. ; Joseph F. Merrill, B.Sc, assistant 

 in plant and animal chemistry, resigned ; Clement L. Perkins, 

 B.Sc, assistant in plant and animal chemistry, resigned; David 

 W. Anderson, B.Sc, graduate assistant in department of horti- 

 culture, resigned, this position still being vacant. Erwin S. 

 Fulton, B.Sc, assistant agricultiirist, resigned, his position be- 

 ing taken by Edwin F. Gaskill, B.Sc, promoted. Charles M. 

 Damon, observer in the meteorological department, replaced by 

 R. I^. Ilallowell. 



The position of second assistant agriculturist has not been 

 filled, but instead the position of secretary to the director has 

 been created. This position has been filled by the appointment 

 of Herbert J. Baker, B.Sc, a recent graduate of the Massachu- 

 setts Agricultural College. This change has made possible a 

 sharper division between outdoor and office work, Mr. Gaskill 

 taking charge of the former, while Mr, Baker takes charge of 

 the books, attends to routine correspondence, assists the director 

 in preparation of material for publication, as well as in many 

 other directions. 



Two of our most experienced and valuable stenographers, 

 Miss Brown and Miss Cobb, have resigned during the year, 

 their places being taken by Mrs. Church and Miss Felton. 



