608 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol.36 



Special mention should be made of the St. Louis conference of April 

 9 and 10, called by the Secretary of Agriculture and participated in 

 by representatives of the Department and sixty-five officials from the 

 agricultural colleges of thirty-two States and twenty State depart- 

 ments of agricidture. Among the many recommendations of this con- 

 ference was one for the appointment of two national bodies, one rela- 

 tively small and to be composed of men of wide knowledge of agri- 

 cultural matters and executive experience for quite constant service in 

 Washington, and the other a large national advisory body of repre- 

 sentatives of the leading agricultural agencies and related interests. 



The Federal Government has already organized an interdepart- 

 mental committee to formulate a program for food production and 

 conservation, and has a number of plans under consideration. Among 

 these is the material expansion of the work of the Department of Ag- 

 riculture, enlarging its forces for cooperative demonstration work, 

 home economics, the combating of destructive pests, the utilization of 

 methods for the preservation of perishable products, the safeguard- 

 ing of seed supplies for 1918, the market news service, assisting with 

 the labor problem, and otherwise to stimulate production, improve 

 distribution, and promote conservation of the food supply. The ap- 

 pointment of a small body of agricultural leaders to give advice as 

 regards national problems, and the creation in each State of a small 

 central division of food production and conservation composed of 

 representatives of the various agricultural and related interests, as 

 well as the formation of county, township, or urban bodies of similar 

 constitution to work in close cooperation with the State central 

 agency, are also suggested. It is estimated that approximately 

 $25,000,000 will be required to carry these plans into operation. 



In this brief review no attempt has been made to present a com- 

 plete summary of the existing situation. The aim has been rather to 

 cite some suggestive illustrations of the importance being attached 

 in this great world-crisis to the close coordination of the science and 

 practice of agriculture. It is scarcely necessary to point out that this 

 means for all agricultural research institutions an unusual opportu- 

 nity for service and a corresponding responsibility. 



