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that station men may give more careful attention to the study of the 

 varieties sent out. In the first place, where varieties are distributed 

 for general cultivation, only those should be sent to the stations that 

 give reasonable promise of success, it order that there may be no 

 waste of time and energy in testing useless sorts ; and, in the second 

 place, the importance of these tests should be thoroughly realized by 

 the station men, and more careful attention should be given to the 

 work. It is highly desirable in the case of these varieties to dis- 

 tribute seeds in rather larger quantities than heretofore and to 

 fewer stations, selected with special reference to the suitability of 

 the prevailing soil and climatic conditions for the proper development 

 of the varieties. Another line of cooperative investigation, which is 

 of highest importance and which can be undertaken at the present 

 time with relatively little outlay of funds, either on the part of the 

 Department or the station, is that of the selection and development 

 of improved varieties of grasses and forage crops. The Department, 

 by serving as a medium for the distribution of seeds and unifying 

 and systematizing the methods of observation and study, as well as 

 the results obtained, can play a most important part in this work, 

 and this is urged as a most fruitful line of cooperative effort. 

 Respectfully, 



Thomas A. Williams, 



In Charge of Experimental Work. 



