New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, 5 
“Moreover, the Station has a desirable social environment. The 
village of Geneva is one of the oldest: in the State, and has long 
been the home of cultivated people who have received the Station 
as an institution in which they have a peculiar and abiding interest. 
This is fortunate, because the prosperity and efficiency of any work 
which calls together a body of educated men is greatly enhanced 
by a loyal local support and agreeable social relations.” 
I have seen no reason for revising these statements and to-day 
I desire to express again, for myself and associates, our sense of 
obligation to the people among whom our lot is cast. 
FREEDOM FROM PARTISANSHIP. 
The main element in the life of any public institution is its board 
of management. It behooves me to refer to my superior officers 
with due and becoming deference and discretion, but [ make bold 
to place on record this one statement, which is, that during the 
eleven years that I have been connected with the Station I have 
not heard from any member of the Board, either in the meetings 
of the Board or outside, a single suggestion that savored of per- 
sonal or partisan advantage. No further comment from me is 
necessary as an evidence of the singleness of purpose that has 
animated this Board. 
INTIMATE RELATIONS WITH FARMERS. 
Our work and influence have been greatly strengthened with the 
people and brought much closer to farm practice through the inti- 
mate relations we sustain with the State Bureau of Farmers’ Insti- 
tutes. The Station staff and the institute lecturers meet annually 
for several days’ discussion of the newer phases of knowledge, a 
conference that is unquestionably of great mutual advantage. 
My acknowledgments would not be complete if I neglected to 
mention gratefully the cordial and helpful attitude toward us of 
the New York State College of Agriculture; and last, but not least, 
of the agencies with which we have joined hands, are the agricul- 
tural organizations.of the State. . Chief among these, and most 
comprehensive, is the Grange, to whose unwavering support we 
owe much. No less should be said of the fruit growers’ organi- 
zations and other special groups of farmers whose confidence and 
support are invaluable. 
