HANDBOOK OF CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE. 2 * 



must make an annual report of this work to the governor, not 

 to exceed 400 pages. 



The station is also authorized by statute to collect sam- 

 ples of concentrated feeding stuffs, and is required to cause 

 at least one sample of each brand of feeding stuff collected 

 to be analyzed, so far as to determine crude protein and fat, 

 and annually to publish these analyses, with such additional 

 information in relation to their composition, character, and 

 use as may seem important. 



Though not required by law, the station does all the 

 chemical work requested by the State dairy commissioner, 

 consisting chiefly of the analysis of molasses, butter, and vin- 

 egar, and furnishes expert evidence in court when needed by 

 the commissioner. 



The total number of samples of materials that have been 

 examined in the chemical laboratory amounts to 24,630. 



Connecticut includes within its boundaries 22, 264 acres of 

 salt marsh and about 1,000 acres of brackish marsh, of which 

 nearly one-fourth lie in the neighborhood of New Haven. In 

 1889 the station made an extended study of the botanical and 

 chemical composition of the forage that grows on these 

 marsh lands. Chemical analyses have also been made for 

 the purpose of learning something of the agricultural value of 

 swamp muck or peat, soils, marine mud, seaweeds, lime- 

 stones, maize raised in Connecticut, hay, and a few other 

 substances. 



The station began the cultivation of grasses in 1886. Mr. 

 J. B. Olcott was employed to collect roots of any species or 

 variety of grass that appeared useful or promising. From 

 these and from seeds procured from various sources the sta- 

 tion garden had, in 1887, 650 sods and 219 drills or plats 

 raised from seed, all distinct in immediate origin and mostly 

 distinct in appearance. With the idea that grasses, like fruit 

 trees, have developed into many different varieties, Mr. Ol- 

 cott has made six journeys of exploration with the sole pur- 

 pose of collecting cultivated grass plants and seeds whose 



