8 Drrector’s REPorRT OF THE 
“Tt is hoped that the observation and experience gained by such close as- 
sociation with the actual research work of an experiment station will con- 
stitute a valuable training for those who are ambitious to connect themselves 
with experiment stations as investigators. 
“The selection of these assistants will properly and necessarily be based 
upon their records as students and upon such knowledge of their personality 
as may be gained in various ways. 
“Tt is expected that they will remain at the Station not less than one year. 
Board, rooms and laboratory materials will be furnished free of charge, no 
other compensation being offered.” ) 
From the applicants for these positions, two were selected, Mr. 
L. A. Rogers, as student assistant in Bacteriology, and Mr. E. D. 
‘Merrill, as student assistant in Botany. Both men graduated 
from the University of Maine and had received some post-gradu- 
ate training. Mr. Rogers had spent a year at the University of 
‘Wisconsin, giving special attention to dairy bacteriology, and Mr. 
‘Merrill had had a year’s experience as instructor in the depart- 
ment of natural history at his alma mater. The former entered 
upon his work in June, but the latter, on the day in which he 
reported to us for duty, received an offer of a position in the U. 
S. Department of Aigriculture which he felt that it was for his 
interest to aceept. Since that time Mr. F. M. Rolfs, a graduate 
of the Iowa Agricultural College, and a teacher of considerable 
experience, became an applicant for the position of student assist- 
ant in Botany, received the appointment and entered upon his 
duties on December 21st. 
As there was no application for the position in Entomology, it 
remains unfilled. 
NEEDED CHANGES AND ADDITIONS. 
The time has come when it is necessary to provide larger and 
more efficient accommodations for the various administrative 
offices and the library. These are now mostly located in a 
building the upper floors of which are occupied by the Director 
as a home, an arrangement which is unsatisfactory in every 
respect. There is at present only one general office in which are 
the desks of the Director and two clerks, a combination which 
