OFFICE OF EXPEKIMFNT STATIONS. 261 



tm-e ill tliis country, and whicli sliall constitute a worthy member of the Govern- 

 ment's collection of buildings in this the Capital City of the United States. 



Btsalred. That the secretary of this association be directed to forward a copy 

 of these resolutions to the Hon. James Wilson. Secretary of Agriculture, and to 

 the presiding officers of both the legislative branches of the Government. 



Among the subjects of general interest discussed at this convention 

 were j^lant breeding, experiments with grasses and forage plants, irri- 

 gation in humid regions, and range improvement and administration. 

 A paper on agricultural libraries was read by the Librarian of this 

 Department. The annual address of the president of the association. 

 Dr. A. AY. Harris, presented the development of the land-grant col- 

 leges as instrumentalities for technical education, and contained an 

 argument for the support of higher education m ith public funds. 



RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS. 



The work of preparing a card catalogue of foreign agricultural 

 institutions for education and research has been continued, and an 

 account of the organization, equipment, expenditures, and work of 

 about 720 experiment stations has been published as Bulletin No. 112 

 of this Office. The work of revising this bulletin is now in hand, and 

 quite a large amount of additional information has been obtained for 

 this purpose. 



One of the most important recent events from an agricultural point 

 of view is the establishment of the department of agriculture and 

 technical instruction for Ireland. This department was organized 

 for the purpose of aiding, improving, and developing agriculture, 

 fisheries, and other industries in Ireland in such a manner as to stimu- 

 late and strengthen the self-reliance of the people. The department 

 is associated with four advisory and cooperating boards or commit- 

 tees, and has an endowment of over $800,000, besides funds for main- 

 taining a number of institutions turned over to it. The distinctive 

 agricultural features already inaugurated are along the lines of agri- 

 cultural instruction, the improvement of live stock, and agricultural 

 experiments and investigations. The plans for the improvement of 

 live stock include the introduction of pure-bred stallions and bulls, 

 which are loaned or sold on contract to farmers, and the distribution 

 of awards for approved animals grown by the farmers. The building 

 of cooperative creameries, the erection of plants for pasteurizing milk, 

 and the promotion of other means for encouraging dairy husbandry 

 are brought about bj" a system of loans. Cooperative experiments for 

 the introduction of new j)roducts and industries and other enterprises 

 of a practical nature are being developed. 



Among other noteworthy events in Great Britain are the establish- 

 ment of a jirivate experiment station of the American tj^pe, known as 

 the Aynsome Experiment Station, at Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, 

 England, by J..S. and T. M. Remington, and the holding of a nature 

 study exhibition of international scope at Regents Park, London, at 

 which this Department exhibited a collection of publications on nature 

 study from the different agricultural colleges, experiment stations, 

 and departments of agriculture in the L^nited States. 



In France an office of agricultural information has been established 

 under the ministry of agriculture. It takes the place of the former 

 bureau of agricultural statistics and food products, and will collect 

 and publish statistical information in regard to agriculture, agricul- 

 tural labor, i)roducts and conditions, imports, public sales, etc., in 



