446 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The account of the last convention of the Association of German 

 Experiment Stations, given in this number, is especially interesting from 

 the fact that the meeting is described from an American standpoint. 

 The previous accounts given from year to year have been prepared 

 from summaries of the proceedings as published in current German 

 periodicals. At the suggestion of this Office the convention last Sep- 

 tember was attended by Mr. Fassig, formerly of the Weather Bureau 

 of this Department, who is studying abroad. His account brings out 

 a number of interesting facts in regard to the organization and conduct 

 of the association which have not hitherto been noted. 



It will be seen that the association is by no means as broad in its 

 scope or provisions for membership as our Association of American 

 Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, or even as our Associ- 

 ation of Official Agricultural Chemists, which it most closely resembles. 



It has far less points of interest common to its members because the 

 German stations have a greater diversity in organization and general 

 management than those in this country. Some are under the control 

 of the State, others of the province, and others of the agricultural 

 associations, and they are not alike responsible to any imperial or 

 general Government. Consequently the field of operations of the asso- 

 ciation has been rather restricted, and has been quite largely confined 

 to studies on methods for analysis and control of fertilizers, feeding 

 stuffs, and seeds. In this the association is confronted by much the 

 same questions and difficulties which our Association of Official Agri- 

 cultural Chemists has to contend with, and it is studying these ques- 

 tions in much the same way. 



This community of interest has led to the suggestion of cooperation 

 between the associations in the two countries, which, although it has 

 never been successfully inaugurated, would seem to be practicable and 

 helpful. 



The deliberations of the German association will always possess a 

 special interest to the agricultural chemists of this country, and, in the 

 nature of the case, the two associations will to a certain extent supple- 

 ment each other in their work. 



