BEPORT 



ON THE 



STATE EXPERIMENT STATION, 



AT AMHERST. 



Under the able management of Professor Goessmann the vari- 

 ous work more especiall}' related to agriculture is continued as 

 heretofore. The analyses of the numerous commercial fertilizers ; 

 the application of the same to the different kinds of crops ; the 

 different methods of cultivation ; the careful testing of various 

 rations for the production of milk, or for fattening purposes^ ; — 

 these arc some of the objects which are receiving attention. 

 During the past year land has been prepared and fruit trees of 

 various kinds have been set, with reference to future experiments. 

 This department of the Station has already exei'ted a most bene- 

 ficial influence upon the Agriculture of the State, and there is everv 

 reason to expect continued good results. 



The work entered upon by Professor Humphrey will be of 

 special interest to liorticulturists. Confining himself to the inves- 

 tigation of the fungous diseases of plants, we may hope that such 

 thorough investigations will be made as shall reveal the nature of 

 the diseases and suggest practical remedies. It is reasonable to 

 expect an advance of knowledge in the vegetable kingdom equiva- 

 lent to that which has recently startled the world b}^ the discov- 

 eries of Professor Koch in the animal kingdom. By a very liberal 

 grant from the State, an admirable plant-house, together with 

 offices and laboratory, has been erected during the past year. 

 This will give to Professor Humphrey greatly increased facilities 

 for carrj'ing forward his investigations at all seasons of the j'ear. 

 For some time past he has had, and he still has, in hand the disease 

 known as " black-knot," most prominent upon the plum. The im- 

 portance of this investigation is so fully realized by horticulturists 

 that we shall be liable to be impatient for results. But this is 



