EDITORIAL. 8 



dustry are quite complex and need to be approaclied from several 

 points of view and to have an unusual variety of conditions taken 

 into account. Again, workers who are inclined to view these sub- 

 jects primarily in their practical aspects need to touch elbows with 

 men of scientific thought and get inspiration and a broader con- 

 ception of their field as investigators or teachers. Both classes are 

 benefited by this contact. 



But if the number of societies is multiplied and the field too nar- 

 rowly divided, the advantage which comes from numbers and from 

 broader association is diminished in some measure, the expense of 

 membership is increased, and the difficulty of attending meetings 

 becomes a greater problem. Furthermore, the scattering of effort 

 and of the results of discussion leads to a weakening of efficiency 

 and of the general impression which is made. 



It is interesting to note that progress was made at the Columbus 

 meetings in the formation of an affiliation of societies for the ad- 

 vancement of agricultural science. Five societies took favorable ac- 

 tion on the plan drawn up a year ago and appointed delegates to 

 represent them on the council of the affiliation. Just what may be 

 accomplished under the present plan remains to be seen, as the details 

 have yet to be worked out, but the way is at least opened for a closer 

 union of these independent societies and for correlating their efforts 

 and systematizing their programs, so as to avoid some of the present 

 confusion. There is also opportunity for the reduction of expense 

 and possibl}'^ for providing means of publication. 



Meanwhile an illustration of practical affiliation was furnished at 

 the Columbus gatherings by the arrangement of three joint sessions, 

 at which topics of _ "^tual interest to the societies were discussed. 

 The first of these was a joint meeting of the Society for the Promo- 

 tion of Agricultural Science and the American Society of Agronomy 

 for the presentation of the two presidential addresses. Other socie- 

 ties had adjusted their programs so that their members were free to 

 attend this session, and by making these addresses a special order 

 not only a larger audience was secured, but an added dignity and 

 importance was lent to the occasion. The knowledge that the presi- 

 dential addresses wo^ld be read to an audience made up from a num- 

 ber of societies would naturally be borne in mind by the writers and 

 a subject of fairly broad interest selected for presentation. This, 

 fortunately, was the case at Columbus, the two addresses dealing with 

 governmental promotion of agi'icultural science, and the status and 

 future of American agronomy, respectively. 



Two symposiums were held which were participated in by the 

 Societies for the Promotion of Agricultural Science, of Agronomy, 

 and of Animal Nutrition, and the American Farm Management 



