No. 33.] | 15 
from a given sample. Cream percentage varies under so many dif- 
ferent conditions as to afford no indication of the richness in fat, or 
of the butter quality of any one sample of milk, as compared with 
another, as this percentage is affected not only by temperatures and 
time of setting, but as well by the character of the milk used, and 
has no constant relation to the fat content as determined by analysis. 
It is possible that the raising of cream by centrifugal force may 
show some constant relation, at least as between milks of the same 
class, between the cream and butter percentage, but the trials to 
prove this point have not been made by us, nor do we find any upon 
record. 
The variability of the fat content of our milk should excite atten- 
tion. Our results show the uncertainty which must attend the inter- 
pretation of the effect of food upon composition of milk unless very 
frequent analyses accompany each stage of the trial, and that some- 
thing more must be done than simply analyzing the milk at the be- 
ginning and end of an experiment, especially when cows of high 
quality are the subjects of our trials. . 
- The Station is now better equipped for its work than at any 
previous period, as we not only have provided the necessary appara- 
tus for scientific and practical work, but we have and are acquiring 
information regarding the condition of our soil and climate. The 
work at a station like this is necessarily cumulative in its character, 
and each year must mark improvement in conditions whereby pre- 
vious work may become more available. In the separate titles 
which follow will be found record of work accomplished, with such 
reflections as the character of the subjects suggest, but we must warn 
that in the present condition of agricultural experiment much of our 
work must be tentative in its character, must be at present asubject 
for record only, and that to draw conclusions in every case as to the 
final result or teachings would be as unwise as unnecessary. — To. se- 
cure necessary accuracy, every experiment should be repeated and 
verified either in whole or in some one or more of its parts, before 
accepted as conclusive. 
Donors AND: GIFTS. 
During the year we have received the following gifts: 
Jan. 2. From 8. H. Verplanck, Geneva, N. Y., two samples of 
wheat from India. 
Jan. 7. From Hon. J. W. Wadsworth, M.C., Vol. II, U.S. Census 
Report, 1880. 
Jan. 10. From American Dairy Salt Company, Syracuse, N. Y., 
five barrels of agricultural salt. | 
Jan. 11. From Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Washington, D. C., the 
Smithsonian Report for 1881. 
Jan. 16. From Prof. C. W. Dabney, Raleigh, N. C., a collection 
of ear corn. 
Jan. 31. From the Commissioner of Agriculture, Washington, D. 
C., various pamphlet publications of the Department of Agriculture. 
