AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 9 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The amount of correspondence is steadily increasing year by 

 year, and a large amount of time must be used in giving careful 

 replies to the numerous inquiries which we receive concerning a 

 great variety of subjects. The correspondents of the Station do not 

 always receive prompt attention because of the absence at institutes 

 or other work of the person who can give the desired information. 



SPECIAL ANALYSES. 



Very many requests are made each year to have analyses made 

 of fertilizers, foods, minerals, drinking waters, etc., etc. Some of 

 these requests are granted and others are refused. The reasons 

 for the refusals are various. Sometimes the desired information 

 can be given without analysis. The samples of fertilizers are often 

 from those brands that have had recent inspection and additional 

 analyses are not necessary. Examinations of drinking water are 

 invariably refused as they are not considered as coming properly 

 within the scope of our work. Besides being time-consuming, a 

 mere chemical analysis of a drinking water settles nothing as to its 

 bealthfulness, in most cases, and with the additional bacteriological 

 tests which are necessary in order that the results may have a definite 

 value, would seriously interfere with duties that are mandatory. 



INSTITUTE WORK. 



The members of the Station Staff have freely participated in the 

 institutes held under the auspices of the Board of Agriculture. 

 While this work requires something of a sacrifice of effoit, especi- 

 ally on my own part, it is felt to be necessary and profitable. 

 Moreover, a failure to aid in these institutes to the extent that is 

 acceptable would be a poor return for the cordial and helpful atti- 

 tude which the Secretary of the Board and his associates have 

 taken towards the Station. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



During the year the Station has issued eleven bulletins, two of 

 which were reports of the inspection of fertilizers, and the others 

 summarized briefly such reports of Station work as admitted of 

 reliable conclusions. Ten thousand of each bulletin are now 

 printed, nearly all of which are distributed in Maine. 



Respectfully submitted, 



W. H. JORDAN, Director. 

 Maine State College, 

 Orono, Me., December 31, 1894. 



