
New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. ze 
not been invited to take positions at agricultural colleges and 
experiment stations of other States at largely advanced salaries. 
But the policy hitherto pursued at this Station has nearly 
ignored all experiments in stock-raising, and such fair comparison 
in the value of the various breeds as can only be determined by 
subjecting all to the same treatment in feeding and care, and 
utilizing the farm to determine the true value of the various 
fertilizers now in general use and about which our farmers are so 
anxious to get reliable information. A change in this policy is 
now deemed very desirable, more especially as some of the most 
noted cattle-breeders in the country offered to donate to the Sta- 
tion some of the most valuable animals of their herds. But before 
the director is in a condition to accept these generous and valuable 
gifts, the farm must have fences, buildings, manures, farm imple- 
ments and proper cultivation. Scarcely a practical farmer has 
visited the Station for the last year without expressing a desire 
that they should find upon the State farm herds of cattle, sheep 
and swine, about whose management, rearing and feeding they can 
get authentic facts, and something reliable about the various phos- 
phates and other fertilizers. 
Another new departure, which is deemed desirable, is establish- 
ing at this Station a department of agricultural implements, such 
as are usually found at our annual fairs, State, county and town. 
The peculiar advantage of concentrating them at this point is that 
it would enable purchasers to test the relative merits of each at 
_all times, and get at the impartial tests made by the managers of 
the farm in their own fields. It is not believed that the cattle and 
other animals and these farm implements would cost the State any 
money beyond the expense of providing suitable buildings for the 
tools, and barns and sheds for the cattle, sheep and swine; and it 
is believed that all the animals which can be well kept, and all the 
implements which are desired, according to the assurances already 
given, will be cheerfully donated by the owners and manufacturers. 
But one of the committee has suggested that beyond the cost of 
the barns and repairs of the house the funds to make these 
improvements can be taken from the regular appropriation. But 
the objection to that proceeding is that it must result in impairing 
or breaking up and discontinuing the experimental work for which 
the institution was originally established, for there is not now, and 
there is not likely to be in the future, any surplus of this appro- 
