lief, that the value of the experiments to the tobacco growers of the State would be far above the cost to the Department, and none of the officers of the Department have thus far regretted the economy which they were thus compelled to exercise in certain directions, in order not only to continue the good work commenced by the Station, but also to save the work and expenditures which had been incurred when the Department assumed the expenses of the experiment, and our only re gret has been that the amount appropriated to the general work of the Department was so limited, that the above amounts could not be safely exceeded without material loss in our work in other directions. This series of experiments was originally commenced for the purpose of ascertaining the effect of different kinds of fertilizers upon not only the yield, but also the quality of the tobacco leaf, and they in cluded outlays which no private grower could be expected to assume. Their primary object is thus outlined by Dr. Frear, Chemist of the Station and Department of Agriculture, who has charge of the work: "The problems considered were prominently these:

1. What is the effect of phosphoric acid, in the soluble form, upon tobacco development?

2. Is carbonate of potash, in the form of a double carbonate of magnesia and potash, superior to sulphate of potash?

3. Which is the preferable form of nitrogen, fertilizers containing its nitrogen in an inorganic combination or one in which a portion of it is supplied in the more soluble and more quickly available forms, or nitrates or ammonium salts?

4. Among the sources of organic nitrogen, which is the better, those more quickly disposable in the soil, such as cotton seed meal and linseed meal, or a material probably more slowly decomposed, such as bone-dust? And then, in general, how does each of these combinations of commercial fertilizer materials compare with the ordinary aplication of horse manure?"

Tests of this nature with tobacco have elements of doubt involved which are not found in ordinary farm crops, and hence different problems are to be dealt with; it is one matter to produce a large weight of leaf and another to produce leaves of a first class quality, and it is well known to all tobacco growers and dealers that it is possible that a smaller crop of excellent quality may produce more profit per acre than a larger one of second class in quality, and hence, in outlining the se experiments Dr. Frear included the following items:

1. The weight of the crop.

2. The proportion of the better sorts of leaves.

3. The proportion of leaf to stalk.

4. The proportion of the stripped leaf to the mid-rib and stem.

5. The thickness of the several portions of the leaf as shown by accarate measurements.

6. The size of the leaf shown in the same manner.

7. The burning quality of the leaf.

8. The quality of the cured leaf judged by the expert tobacco buyer. 9. The quality of the sweated leaf judged in the same way and from partial analyses.

10. The quality of the tobacco in the cigar adjudged by various experienced smokers.

In order to render the experiments of as general value as possible, these experiments were carried on in duplicate in some of the most prominent tobacco growing regions of the State, a careful analyses of soils and fertilizers made, and a series of very careful weather records kept; in fact, the experiments appear to have been guarded at every point and made as practical as possible under the circumstances, under which they were and are conducted.

A third factor in these experiments is thus outlined by Dr. Frear in his report to the Department:

"A third line of experiment has been undertaken to determine, more precisely than had heretofore been done, the exact conditions of temperature and humidity prevailing in Lancaster county curing barns so constructed that these conditions of temperature and humidity could be controlled, to ascertain whether it might not be readily possible to avoid the dangers that threaten the crop curing in the ordinary manner, and even to improve and make more uniform the character of the cured leaf. Experiments have been carried on for two seasons in the Snow barn, which is constructed so as to permit the control above indicated, and in addition to the work on curing, some preliminary experiments have been made upon the forced sweating of the tobacco leaf, also under controlling conditions of temperature and humidity." The importance of these experiments is such that the Legislature should not trust to their being carried on by the Department of Agriculture from its limited appropriations, but the Station should have liberal legislative support, as State funds expended in this manner will be sure to give direct benefit to all who are engaged in this important branch of agricultural industry, and all encouragement is at this time particularly applicable, as it is believed and hoped that we are about entering upon an era of increased prosperity for this special industry.

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS.

Section sixth of the act of March 13, 1895, provides "That the Secretary may at his discretion, employ experts for special examinations or investigations."

Acting under the authority given by this section, I have employed suitable persons to make the following investigations and reports, the results of which have appeared or will appear either in this report or in the form of bulletins:

1. THE MILK SUPPLY OF CITIES; by M. E. McDonnell, of the State Experiment Station. The object of this investigation is to obtain a practical knowledge of the milk supply of our leading cities and towns, so that the Department may be in proper shape to give definite information to the committees of the Legislature under whose consideration and action proposed laws regulating the milk supplies will come; during the past sessions of the Legislature the committees of both branches of the Legislature have been confused by a mass of conflicting evidence, often of exactly a contrary nature, coming from men who are apparently entitled to consideration, and thus far the result has been that we have either secured no legislation at all or have added to our statute books that which has proven to be a disadvantage, rather than a benefit. It is believed that the report of Mr. McDonnell will present the matter in a practical and unbiased form, which will give those requiring it, information of value.

2. EFFECTS OF LIME UPON CROPS AND SOIL; by Dr. William Frear, Chemist of the Department and of the State Experiment Station. The discussions at our farmers' institutes and other agricultural meetings has fully proven that there is not only a wide difference of opinion among practical men as to the effects of lime, but also as to the manner in which it produces these effects. Dr. Frear was requested to give the matter a careful examination, make a long series of chemical analyses and gather from practical farmers all the evidence possible. The work is one which will require much time and careful examination, and no report is expected this year, and the examination will be extended into next year, and a final and conclusive report will be made as soon as practicable.

3. MOTIVE POWER; y J. A. Hunter, Pennsylvania State College. The fact that our farmers are using naptha engines, horse power, steam engines, wind and other powers under the same conditions and often under similar surroundings, has convinced many that the question of economical motive power is one which needs attention, and Mr. Hunter has been selected to give the question, in all of its bearings, a careful

examination and report, and it is believed that when he has concluded his work, we will have a mass of evidence which will throw much light on the subject.

4. GINSENG CULTURE; by Prof. George C. Butz, Pennsylvania State College. As our farmers as looking around for what may be termed "side crops" to add to the profits of the general agriculture, it seemed as if the fact that large amounts of ginseng are annually bought and shipped to China and other Asiatic ports, and that it grows wild in some of the counties of our State, and may be cultivated in all of them, it was believed that an investigation as to yield, profit and culture might be of benefit, and hence the selection of the subject and the appointment of Prof. Butz to investigate and report on it.

5. BUTTER SUPPLY; by Harry Hayward, State Experiment Station. In these days when oleo, "boiled butter, manipulated butter, cream ripeners" and other sources of a contaminated butter supply are so prevalent, it was thought that a careful investigation into the general subject of "butter supply" might result in good to our dairymen and consumers, and attention is called to the report of Mr. Hayward as the means of settling many of the disputed points in the topic which he has so ably investigated.

6. SEX IN PLANTS; by Josiah Hoopes, West Chester, Pa. The long connection of Mr. Hoopes with the growth of trees, plants and shrubs seemed to make him especially suitable for investigating and reporting upon this subject which, to the average farmer, has so many mysteries, nearly all of which disappear under the light of Mr. Hoopes' investigations.

7. BARK OF TREES; by Thomas Meehan, Germantown, Pa. This question is always one of interest, and leads the practical farmer to an investigation of the wonders of nature which are all around him, and, with similar knowledge he cannot but make his calling more pleasant and less monotonous.

8. FUNGOUS DISEASES OF TREES; by Prof. Byron D. Halsted, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The annual loss to trees by fungoid diseases and the want of a proper knowledge of these diseases and their character are sufficient excuse for the adoption of it for an investigation, such as is reported by Mr. Halsted elsewhere.

9. TOBACCO CULTURE; by F. R. Diffenderffer, Lancaster, Pa. The importance of this crop to the farmer in general and to the Lancaster county farmer in particular, and Mr. Diffenderffer's well known connection and close touch with the best and most practical growers of the State, are a sufficient guarantee that the subject assigned to him has received its proper share of care and attention.

10. THE ACTION OF PRESERVATIVES; by Dr. Henry Leffman, Philadelphia. This topic, in the interest of legislation in relation to the use of preservatives in milk and their effect as noted by the officers of the

Dairy and Food Division, as they find them in food products, makes the question one of great importance. Nothing has been done in the line of scientific research in this direction recently, and it is believed that the report of Dr. Leffman will settle many of the perplexing questions which have from time to time met the officers of the Department in carrying into effect the various food laws now upon our statute books. 11. FARM TITLES AND WHAT THEY INCLUDE; by Hon. John P. Elkin, Indiana, Pa. Mr. Elkin's fitness for an investigation of this character is undoubted, and anything that he may furnish will be accepted as correct.

12. LEGAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF FARM EMPLOYER AND FARM EMPLOYE; by Hon. Geo. W. Hood, Indiana, Pa. The addresses on this and similar topics which Mr. Hood has from time to time delivered at meetings of the Board of Agriculture are a sufficient guarantee of his ability to handle his topic.

13. CHEESE EXAMINATIONS; by Drs. Frear, Aschman and Cochran. During the period which elapsed between the passage of the law regulating the manufacture and sale of cheese and its being put into force, various questions were raised against the law by dealers in cheese; these all depended upon practical and readily ascertainable facts, and a series of analyses were ordered in three series, each by a chemist working independently, and the results as obtained have not only proven of great use in our own State, but have also attracted more or less notice in all states in which similar laws are in effect. The result of the investigations was to satisfy the dealers in cheese that in the main, theory contentions were founded upon a basis which were not practical, and which would not bear the light of impartial investigations.

14. POISONS DEVELOPED IN FOOD BY FERMENTATION; by Prof. F. T. Aschman, of the Department for the Western District of the State. This investigation will include the formation of poisonous matters in cheese, milk and other dairy products.

15. COLORING MATTERS IN FOOD AND CONFECTIONS; by Prof. C. B Cochran, West Chester, Pa. During the enforcement of the various acts relating to food and food products a prominent side question which often came up was that of the use and effects of coloring matters, and Prof. Cochran was directed to make a careful examination and report results; this work has required a large number of analyses and is expected to furnish the officers of the Department with reliable and practical information which may in the future guide their actions in the enforcement of laws which directly or indirectly relate to the use of injurious coloring matters.

16. GARDENING FOR MARKET by R. M. Simmers, Phoenixville, Pa. The addresses of Mr. Simmers at our farmers' institutes have aroused a desire upon the part of our farmers who reside near large towns