EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XXI. November, 1909. No. 6. 



The Portland convention of the Association of American Agricul- 

 tural Colleges and Experiment Stations was notable not only as the 

 second in the history of the association to be held west of the Rocky 

 Mountains, but also on account of the good attendance and the lively 

 interest shown in the discussion of a number of most important sub- 

 jects. The representation w^as an unusually wide one, delegates being 

 present from forty-two States and Territories, as well as from Porto 

 Rico and Canada. 



The meeting furnished striking illustrations of the rapid develop- 

 ment of agricultural education and research in the newer portions of 

 the country, and afforded an opportunity for the presentation of 

 certain phases of educational and research problems of special interest 

 and importance to that region. The proceedings, however, were in 

 no sense narrowly sectional, but included the consideration of many 

 subjects of the broadest scope and significance. 



As might have been predicted from the action of the previous 

 convention, the extension work was a leading subject of discussion at 

 the Portland convention. The growing importance and rapid ex- 

 pansion of extension work had been strongly emphasized at the 

 Washington meeting, and there was an evident conviction in the 

 minds of many members at that time that such work should be more 

 definitely provided for, and organized in the association and in the 

 institutions represented therein. 



The strong and convincing report of the committee on extension 

 work at the Portland meeting served to further develop and crystal- 

 lize this feeling. Practically without opposition, the constitution of 

 the association was amended so as to provide for a section on exten- 

 sion work, and following this the new section was duly organized by 

 the election of a chairman and secretary, and instructed to prepare a 

 programme for consideration at the next meeting of the association. 

 Provision was thus definitely made for the full consideration of the 

 many complicated and difficult problems involved in the organiza- 

 tion ajid administration of extension work, and in its adjustment 

 to present agencies and facilities for education and research in 



agriculture. 



501 



