In 1847 an act was passed making provision for a State Labora-
tory, in which the application of chemistry to agriculture was to be
undertaken. In 1858 experimentation was undertaken on the College
farm. After two or three years this work was interrupted by the
general financial distress of the time and by the Civil War. In 1888,
under the provisions of the Hatch Act of the preceding year, the
Agricultural Experiment Station was established.

This act states the object and purpose of the experiment station
as follows:

"That it shall be the object and duty of said Experiment Stations
to conduct original researches or verify experiments on the physiology
of plants and animals; the diseases to which they are severally sub-
ject, with the remedies for the same; the chemical composition of
useful plants at their different stages of growth; the comparative ad-
vantages of rotative cropping as pursued under a varying series of
crops; the capacity of new plants or trees for acclimation; the analysis
of soils and water; the chemical composition of manures, natural
or artificial, with experiments designed to test their comparative ef-
fects on crops of different kinds; the adaptation and value of grasses
and forage plants; the composition and digestibility of the different
kinds of food for domestic animals; the scientific and economic ques-
tions involved in the production of butter and cheese; and such other
researches or experiments bearing directly on the agricultural indus-
try of the United States as may in each case be deemed advisable
having due regard to the varying conditions and needs of the re-
spective States or Territories."

The placing of agricultural demonstrations and extension work on
a national basis has been the direct outgrowth of .the work of the
experiment.. station.

The students of the University, taking courses in the College of
Agriculture, are kept in close touch with the investigations in pro-
gress.

The Eastern Branch.

The Eastern Branch of the University of Maryland is located at
Princess Anne, Somerset county. It is maintained for the education
of negroes in agriculture and mechanic arts.

Administrative Council

Albert F. Woods, A. M., D. Agr., LL. D............................................President
H, C., Byrd................................................Assistant to the President

Deans and Directors—

J. E, Palmer..........................................................Executive Secretary
Maude F. McKenney..................................................... Financial Secretary
G. S. Smardon................................................................................ Comptroller
W. M. Hillegeist..............................................................................Registrar
Alma H. Preinkert, M. A.......................................................Assistant Registrar
H. L. Crisp, M. M. E.........................................................Superintendent of Buildings
Grace Barnes.....................................................Librarian ( College Park )
Mrs. Ruth L. Briscoe.....................................................Librarian (Baltimore)
T. A, Hutton................Manager Students' Supply Store and Purchasing Agent

The University Senate

Albert F. Woods, A. M., D. Agr., LL.. D.. .President of the University.
H. C. Byrd, B. S., Assistant to the President.