5 
grower. ‘The investigation of various rots, rusts and scabs to which 
vegetation is subject will, it is thought, ultimately prove of high value. 
In the chemist’s report will be found the evidence of much work 
accomplished. Especial attention has been directed towards milk 
analysis and treatment with reference to the influence of the food of 
the cow upon the milk in its food and churning relations. <A list of 
food analyses made during the year, and combined in a table with 
the results of previous years, are also given, as wellas other work of 
a miscellaneous character. The lysimeter water analyses, as well as 
that of water collected from our drains and from the stream, are put 
upon record for future use and discussion. 
The work of our Assistant Chemist upon the artificial digestion 
of fodders, and also his investigations upon the action of phosphoric 
acid in fertilizers deserve especial notice; the first subject has given 
results of great promise, and forecasts the time when the value of 
cattle foods can be directly determined in the laboratory under con- 
ditions which are under exact control. 
The weather records have been under the direct charge of our first 
assistant, and have been conscientiously recorded. The study of the 
cereals by Mr. Plumb has occupied much of his attention, and is a 
work which has been much required. His descriptions as given in 
his report are of interest and of value as forecasting the results to- 
ward which this year’s effort stands in the form of progress, 
Our feeding experiments are reported quite fully ; these, however, 
must be regarded rather as marking progress than as complete. The 
method of interpretation used seems the proper one, and attention 
is called here to this method as obviating the danger of cancellation 
in the use of figures gained from unequal condition and relations of 
the animal and the food under the circumstance of practise. If our 
ideas are correct, true incorporation of figures into averages which 
shall define the laws of nutrition can only take place when the con- 
ditions are either gaining or losing, and such periods require sepa- 
rate study. Hence our choice is few animals carefully studied as in- 
dividuals, rather than many animals studied in mass. 
Our Horticulturist’s report is as usual, largely tabular. These 
tables represent much labor, and it is believed will prove ultimately 
of use, when the subject of agricultural botany becomes more of a 
study than at present. We desire to put data upon record, which 
becoming cumulative from year to year, will in time allow of our 
horticultural work being reviewed and studied with reference to the 
influences exerted by climate, soil and selection. Some of the ex- 
perimental work here reported is worthy of serious examination by 
the farmer and gardener, as giving valuable clues which being fol- 
lowed out promise to conduct to a knowledge of certain conditions 
which can be influenced towards contributing to our success. Hach 
year we propose to devote some space to descriptive and nomencla- 
ture work ; in 1882 and 1883 we had beans, in 1884 maize and peas, 
in this report lettuce and certain cereals, but this work, as much 
other, must be considered rather as progressive than as complete. 
The Assistant Horticulturist makes a report upon roots, as sup- 
plementary to a like study in 1884. This investigation seems to 
have important bearings upon the study of fer tilization and rotation, 
but many more observations are required before there can be safety 
