Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-01
CROP EXP ERR M ENTS
Stations Largely Supported by the Govern
30 ~~g M ment for the Purpose.
Scope and Character of WOr11-Inter-
estins Report Made to the Score.
.e.....~.... tary, of Agriculture.

A. Z. True, director s0r the Office of ex-
perimental stations oftthe Department of
Agriculture. has submitted his report to
Secretary Wilson. The report is based on
three sources of irformaton-fnancial
statements of the stations, rendered on the
schedules prescribed by the department:
printed reports and bulletins of the sta
lions and the reports of officers of the de-
partment, made under personal examina-
ton Of the stations The report states that
altogether a year of prosperity was en-
joyed on all Sides The demands for fnfor-
nation furnished by the stations are stead
lily increasing among the farmers
Agricultural stations were started under
the act Of March 2, 1887. They are in all
states and territories, Alaska being the
only section having none. In each Of the
states of Alabama, Connecticut, New Jer-
sey and New York a separate station is
maintained wholly or In part by a state
fund. In Louisiana a station for sugar ex-
periments Is maintained by the planters
The separate station maintained Tor many
years IN the state of; Massachusetts has
been combined with the Hatch experiment.
al station In that state. There are excel
lent branch stations in several states, the
total number in the United States of all
the stations being fiftyfour OF these fif-
ty-two receive appropriations provided for
by Congress.
Support Of the Stations,
The total income Of stations during 1896
was nearly 100000, of which the sum of
$72o,OOO was from the national government,
The remainder came from a number of
sources, of which $26s.OO0 was from state
governments. The sum of $51,SS4 was re-
| ceived for anaiyzing fertilizers; about &c.
GOO was received from sales Of farm pro-
ducts. In addition the office of expert
y~intf
about $4,000 during the past fiscal year.
The value of additions to equipments for
| the stations in 1896 was nearly $4,000,
Inc stations employ 5S4 persons in the
work of administration and inquiry At 23t;
stations officers do more or less teaching
| In the colleges with which the stations are
connected. The press bulletin lists aggre-
gate about 1,000.00O copies.
The report states that a great weakness
was found last year in the fact that the
administration comes under a shifting man
agement, the cause being that the COVER
nors of the states appoint the boards, which,
Oh course, are not permanent.
The Necessities In Alaska
In regard to establishing an experimental
station In Alaska the report says that the
5000 appropriated by the last Congress
was used to inspect the country from its
southern boundary far north as Unalas-
ka. The report of DR.. w. II. Evans, who
was ore Of the inspectors. has not yet been
submitted DR.. Sheldon jackson was de-
tailed to examine into the capabilities Of
the Yukon valley. The sum of 49, 600 addi-
t1onal is asked for, for investigating the
agricultural resources and capabilities of
the country. 1t Is believed that the Hatch
act has requirements which cannot be met
under the present Alaskan conditions On
account of the unsettled condition of the
population it would make it exceedingly
difficult for local authorities to maintain an
experimental station, and the work must
1lrst ne done by the general government
The immediate supervision OF the Secretary
OF Agriculture is needed it is stated
During the year thirty-nine documents,
aggregating nearly 5000 pages. were issued.
l ne eighth volume of the experimental sta
ton record was compiled. 1t contains 1910
Pages, being abstracts of $40 bulletins and
siAty-tWo annual reports of fifty-three ex-
peffmentat sta tons in the United States,
ninety-two publications of the Department
OF Agriculture and 702 reports Of foreign
Investigations.
distribution of Sugar Beet Seed.
rms ohfce took part in the distribution
OF sugar beet seed made last spring. This
was done by arranging with the expert
mental stations in different parts of the
country to conduct cooperative tests of
the seeds sent from the department, to
analyze samples of beets, and to report the
results for publication Close relations are
sustained between the Office and the agri-
cultural colleges which are connected with
the experimental stations. The director. of
the office personally visited a; number of
institutions in Germany. France, Switzer-
iand, Belgium, Holland, England and Cam
ada, ana also attended the AssOcia ton of
German Experimental Stations.
1t Is thought by the director that a .,ocd
showing should be made by the Office at
the Paris exposition in 1890. At the recent
convention OF the Association of American
Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Sta
lions, held In Minnesota, a committee was
appointed to confer with the department
with instructions to further the prepara-
tlon OF the cooperative station at The
Par1s exposition, If suitable arrangements
couin De made TO insure the success of the
enterprise.
The Nutrition investigation.
The agricultural experimental stations
co-operated In the nutrition investigation
The cooking of cereals and other food ma
terials and their effect upon digestion were
noted. The data are meager from the fact
that there Is need for numerous other ex-
periments
Congress having provided for the continu-
ance or the nutrition Investigation during
the present year, arrangements have been
made forecarrxing 1t on in accordance with
the general plan hitherto followed. Inves-
legations VIII be conducted in many of the
same places as last year. It Is thou,.ht
tnal the experiments finally will be of the
greatest Importance. The Investigation Of
1000 Tor man is stndy 80 recent that the
scope is somewhat Undecided.