ANNOUNCEMENTS. 



EsTABIvISHMElNT OF THE; STATION. 



The Maine Fertilizer Control and Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, established by Act of the Legislature approved March 

 3, 1885, began its work in April of that year in quarters fur- 

 nished by the College. After the Station had existed for two 

 years, Congress passed what is known as the Hatch Act, estab- 

 lishing agricultural experiment stations in every state. This 

 grant was accepted by the Maine Legislature by an Act ap- 

 proved March 16, 1887, which established the Maine Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station as a department of the University. 

 The reorganization was effected in June, 1887, but work was 

 not begun until February 16, 1888. In 1906 Congress passed 

 the Adams Act for the further endowment of the stations estab- 

 lished under the Hatch Act. 



The purpose of the experiment stations is defined in the Act 

 of Congress establishing them as follows : 



"It shall be the object and duty of said experiment stations to 

 conduct original researches or verify experiments on the physi- 

 ology of plants and animals ; the diseases to which they are sev- 

 erally subject, with the remedies for the same; the chemical 

 composition of useful plants at their different stages of growth ; 

 the comparative advantages of rotative cropping as pursued un- 

 der 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 and artificial, with experi- 

 ments 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 ques- 

 tions involved in the production of butter and cheese; and such 

 other researches or experiments bearing directly on the agri- 

 cultural 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." 



