Station during the past year have been $21,693.43; $15,000 comes from the general government by congressional appropriation; the remainder is derived from fees for analytical work and sale of fertilizer tags, as required by law, and the income from the gardens, greenhouses, &c. Everything is under the most careful supervision, and the board is invited to examine our system. of accounts, which are in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, and see if any improvement can be made in them. The inspecting officer of the department, who recently visited us, in reply to my request to offer any suggestions for changes and improvements, stated in as nearly the following language as I can quote: "Your Station is more distinctly an Experiment Station than any I have visited; your system is entirely satisfactory, and I have no changes to suggest."

Last year I recommended the board to change our system of auditing accounts and book-keeping, which was adopted both for the Station and for the University. The effect of this system has been to simplify the accounts of the whole institution, and to place all financial matters in such a shape that anybody, at any time, may find out the exact condition of any fund or any appropriation belonging to the University or the Experiment Station. The work has been done most admirably by Mr. Moreland, the present auditing officer, and I congratulate the board upon the change that has been brought about in the management of the financial affairs of the institution. Before that time it had been necessary for the Station to keep its own books in order to keep up with its accounts; this year it has not been necessary as all accounts are audited and books kept by the auditing officer of the board.

The report of the treasurer will show in detail the disbursement of the funds, and it is not necessary for me at this point to weary the board with that they will get from the treasurer's report.

We have in the treasury, on Station account, $1,678.89; outstanding bills have been presented amounting to $2,978.95 still due on the building. This includes the entire indebtedness of

the Station, excepting a few bills for current expenses which have come in since the Auditor closed his books. The money in the treasury will meet all of our anticipated expenses up to the time the next installment of the government appropriation comes in and will also pay something upon the account of the building.

The Station has issued since its origin, 43 bulletins, and reports representing a total of 1,530 pages of printed matter. This has been distributed very largely to farmers of the State, and reaches about 1,100 post-offices in the State. In addition to the regular publications of the Station, we have sent to the various county papers of the State, and agricultural papers of the country, a great number of articles upon subjects requiring immediate attention. It is doubtful whether any Station in the country has published in the same time, more original investigations that we have, and we believe that everything has been done that our resources and environment would permit.

The Acad

During the spring we organized in connection with the Agr. Expt. Station, the West Virginia Academy of Science, which is intended to include in its membership all of the leading scientific men, and men of scientific tastes in the State. emy was organized upon the initiative of the Experiment Station staff, and holds its meetings in one of the Station rooms. It has its meetings, which are free to all, every two weeks during the term of the University, and has been liberally attended by the scientific students and more progressive members of the University faculty. At its meetings valuable are presented, giving original observations and discoveries in the several departments of science, and also presenting a resume of the progress that is being made in all departments of science. These discussions are participated in by members of the Station staff, the faculty, and the more advanced students and scientific men who may be in attendance, and brings the students of the University into direct contact with the latest developments and discoveries in the various branches. It has been very highly appreciated by the students in

attendance, and many of the papers

presented would.

be worthy of consideration in any scientific association in the country. I think it will prove a valuable adjunct to the educational facilities of the University, and should receive the encouragement of the Board of Regents. It is an important movement forward.

Since the last meeting of the board, the Station library has been increased 2,631 volumes, and we receive 51 scientific and agricultural papers and magazines, besides the regular exchanges with all Agricultural Experiment Stations of the country, and several abroad. The library has been very largely used by the students who come to read the magazines and papers, and examine the works of reference.

All

Dr. Hopkins has applied for an insectry in which to preserve and study certain classes of forestry and timber insects. This will cost, approximately $300. The Horticulturist is anxious also to have a potting house built at the northern end of the greenhouse, which will cost, approximately $200; and he also wishes a root cellar, which will cost, approximately $300. of these would be valuable adjuncts to the Station, and I recommend the board to authorize their construction, under the supervision of the Station Committee, provided the resources of the Station will justify it, after payment of the remainder of the debt upon our building, which should be lifted this year, and can be if the policy now in force should be continued by the board.

These are the only things that I now see that it is probably necessary for the board to consider at the present meeting. Any other matters that may require attention should be left in the hands of a committee of the board, so that in case of any emergency, such as arose last winter, it will be necessary to have delays or expensive and complicated conditions to be complied with.

In conclusion, I may say that we believe we present to the consideration of the board, in the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, an institution that is almost a model in the completeness of its organization and the smoothness of its

operations, and in the strength and efficiency of its staff. If any improvements can be made upon it, I am unable at present to suggest them, and we shall welcome a most careful examination by the board, or any committee of the board, and believe that upon examination of all the conditions, they will arrive at the conclusion we present.

Respectfully submitted,

JOHN A. MYERS,

Director.

To the Honorable Board of Regents Gentlemen of the Board :

Since your last meeting the Horticulturist of the Agr. Expt. Station has tendered his resignation to accept a position in New Hampshire, which position offers him more advantages than we were able to offer him at this Station. I understand he receives $2,000 salary, and has other inducements which he could not afford, in justice to himself, not to accept. This is the second member of the Station staff that we have lost within a year; one going to New York at a salary of $2,500, and Prof. Rane leaving us to accept a salary of $2,000 with additional inducements.

In the past few weeks negotiations were opened with another member of our Station staff for a position in the far west. This, however, has failed up to the present to materialize. It should certainly be gratifying to the members of the board to know that the members of the Station staff are being sought after at such largely increased salaries. It speaks well for the personnel of our Station staff.

Immediately upon the resignation of Prof. Rane, I notified the president of the board in regard to the matter and was directed, in connection with the president of the University, to select some suitable man as a successor to Prof. Rane. After consultation with the president in regard to the matter, we came to a clear understanding and as a successor to Prof. Rane, I recommend for the Experiment Station Mr. L. C. Corbett, of New York, late of the Agricultural Experiment Station of South Dakota. Mr. Corbett was reccommended to me in the

most flattering terms by Dr A. C. True, of the office of Experiment Stations at Washington, by Prof. Bailey and Prof. Roberts, of Cornell, under whom he studied.

Prof. Corbett is a graduate of the school of horticulture in Cornell University and has been recommended in the most flattering terms orally.

Pursuant to the instructions of the president of the board upon consultation with the president of the University, I have tendered him the appointment upon the Station staff. It remains for the board to consider his fittness as professor of Agriculture in the University.

I have had a number of applicants for the position, and I tried to secure two other men, one the horticulturist of the New York station, Mr. Beech, and the other the horticulturist of the Nebraska station. The horticulturist of the New York station could not be moved on less than $2,000, and the horticulturist of the Nebraska station prefers to remain where he is. The next best man, in my judgment, is Prof. Corbett. He is here upon the grounds. He has had considerable experience, and I trust that the board will favorably impress with him. He lost his place in South Dakota in the confusion that arises so frequently in those western institutions. We have testimonials from the Governor of the State, and from the superintendent of public institutions and from his co-workers indicating that he was blameless in the matter.

The resignation of Prof. Rane has precipitated considerable confusion into the Station work, and I have been under necessity of attending to a great many details not usually falling upon me, I think everything is now arranged, so that the disturbance produced by Prof. Rane's resignation will not be appreciated, and if the arrangement meets with the approval of the board I believe our work will go along without any serious results following.

I submit the testimonials of the several applicants.

The finances of the Station are in good condition, although we are working so close that there will be no surplus funds at the end of the year. Since the meeting of the board in June