274 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



ferent stages of growth ; the comparative advantages of rota- 

 tive cropping as pursued under a varying series of crops ; the 

 capacity of new plants or trees for acclimation ; the analysis 

 of soils and water; the chemical composition of manures, 

 natural or artificial, with experiments designed to test their 

 comparative effects on crops of different kinds; the adaptation 

 and value of grasses and forage plants ; the composition and 

 digestibility of the different kinds of food for domestic 

 animals; the scientific and economic questions involved in the 

 production of butter and cheese ; and such other researches or 

 experiments bearing directly on the agricultural industry of 

 the United States as may in each case be deemed advisable, 

 having due regard to the varying conditions and needs of the 

 respective States or Territories. 



SEC. 3. That in order to secure, as far as practicable, 

 uniformity of methods and results in the work of said stations 

 it shall be the duty of the United States Commissioner of 

 Agriculture to furnish forms, as far as practicable, for the 

 tabulation of results of investigation or experiments ; to indi- 

 cate, from time to time, such lines of inquiry as to him shall 

 seem most important; and, in general, to furnish such advice 

 and assistance as will best promote the purpose of this act. It 

 shall be the duty of each of said stations annually, on or before 

 the first day of February, to make to the governor of the State 

 or Territory in which it is located a full and detailed report of 

 its operations, including a statement of receipts and expendi- 

 tures, a copy of which report shall be sent to each of said 

 stations, to the said Commissioner of Agriculture, and to the 

 Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. 



SEC. 4. That bulletins or reports of progress shall be pub- 

 lished at said stations at least once in three months, one copy 

 of which shall be sent to each newspaper in the States or 

 Territories in which they are respectively located, and to such 

 individuals actually engaged in farming as may request the 

 same, and as far as the means of the station will permit. 

 Such bulletins or reports and the annual reports of said sta- 

 tions shall be transmitted in the mails of the United States 

 free of charge for postage, under such regulations as the Post- 

 master-General may from time to time prescribe. 



SEC. 5. That for the purpose of paying the necessary ex- 



