56 



COMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATION 



weed enemies. Much has already been accompUshed in that Hne, 

 and more is expected. 



It would not be advisable to add still further to the length of this 

 paper by giving a list of all the subjects suggested by my corres- 

 pondents as a proper field for work at the stations. This must be 

 left for a later occasion. I will mention one or two, however. 



A very proper subject for investigation is the potato. Why is 

 the average yield so low? What can be done to increase it.^ Also, if 

 on acid soils, what can be done, by liming or otherwise, to correct 

 soil acidity without increasing tendency to scab? What about 

 making efforts toward breeding a blight-resistant type of potatoes? 

 What are the true facts in regard to the value of southern second 

 crop and northern grown seed potatoes? 



A comparatively new development is the utilization of muck 

 lands for raising garden crops, especially lettuce, celery, onions, 

 cauliflower, and similar crops. There are in this state thousands of 

 acres of land that are now a worthless tangle of wild growths, and 

 not even good for pasture except for water fowls and muskrats, but 

 amenable to drainage. These lands, properly handled, can be trans- 

 formed into blooming gardens. They constitute our best garden 

 soils. The soil in these swamps contains a large amount of nitrogen. 

 Yet the growers who have already lands of this kind under cultiva- 

 tion feel still obliged to apply available nitrogen in large doses, at 

 great expense. Can the stations find no way to utilize the nitrogen 

 already in the soil, so as to avoid further and costly applications of 

 the available form of this element? 



And finally, if I were to continue in this way, and give you the 

 full list of all the work that my correspondents have outlined in their 

 letters for the stations to take up, it would show that there is a lot of 

 work ahead for these stations, enough to keep them busy for many 

 years. But that is what they want, and what they like. The 

 station officers are willing to earn their salaries, and willing to serve 

 our interests to the best of their ability. Don't hesitate, and don't 

 be afraid to call on them for their assistance when you need them. 



