EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XXXI. August, 1914. No. 2. 



The place of the publication in the activities of the agricultural 

 colleges and experiment stations is increasing in importance and 

 prominence year by year. It is an expression of the broadening 

 field of publicity work at these institutions, and likewise of the 

 growth of their reading constituencies. It is a recognition of the 

 fact that the colleges and stations are working for all the people, 

 and not merely for the few who come in direct contact with them. 



Very naturally this development has led to greater attention to 

 the making of these publications, in order that they may effectively 

 carry the message, and to systematic provision for this service. 

 What was at one time an incidental feature has become a prominent 

 and important one, and this has developed a special class of workers. 

 It is at once a division of labor and an interesting recognition of the 

 need for the handling of publications by experts with training and 

 insight such as to make them capable of this special form of work. 



So recently as 1911 at only three experiment stations — Iowa, New 

 York State, and Wisconsin — had officers designated as editors been 

 appointed, and one of these was also serving as librarian. By July, 

 1913, however, the number had so increased that a meeting of the 

 agricultural editors and publicity men of the mid-western colleges 

 was held at the University of Illinois, and this gathering developed 

 a belief in the desirability of an organization of national scope. As 

 a result of this, a conference was held at the Kentucky Experiment 

 Station June 25 and 26, 1914, which brought together representa- 

 tives of thirteen States, as well as this Department, and found insti- 

 tutions in numerous other States eligible for membership. An inter- 

 esting program, dealing with various phases of the details of bulletin 

 editing and distribution, as well as of agricultural college and experi- 

 ment station publicity work, was presented as discussed in detail on 

 page 199 of this issue, and a formal organization was effected, to 

 be Imown as the American Association of Agricultural College 

 Editors, with provision for committee activities and annual meet- 

 ings. Much interest and enthusiasm were displayed by those in 

 attendance, and it seems probable that the next meeting, which is 



101 



