548 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of scientific bureaus and investigatious, who sliall continue in office 

 during good behavior, and perform such duties as the Secretary may 

 assign him.'' 



In furtherance of the last suggestion, C. D. Smith, of Michigan, 

 introduced and the Association adoi)ted a resolution declaring "that 

 the creation of the proposed office and the appointment thereto of a 

 broadly educated scientific man, who shall hold office during good 

 behavior, would be of the highest value to the cause of scientific agri- 

 culture in the continuity of purpose and harmonization of operations 

 that should result from the labors and influence of such an officer." 



A committee consisting of G. W. Atherton, of Pennsylvania; J. B. 

 Stubbs, of ^Nevada; J. H. Smart, of Indiana, and H. H. Goodell, of 

 Massachusetts, was appointed "to wait upon President-elect McKiuley 

 and present to him the importance of such an organization and admin- 

 istration of the Department of Agriculture as Avill give unity and per- 

 manence to all its scientific work and keep that work free froiu political 

 influence."' 



J. H. Brigham, of Ohio, the Master of the National Grange, was 

 given the privileges of the floor, and expressed briefly his own and the 

 Grange's interest in the work of the institutions represented in the 

 Association, and urged cooperation between all organizations having 

 as an object the advancement of agriculture. 



The question of changing the name of the Association provoked a 

 lengthy discussion, the outcome of which was the rejection of the name 

 proposed by the committee on this matter. 



A resolution, reported by W. B. Alwood, of Virginia, from the section 

 on entomology, advising the different institutions represented in the 

 Association to take steps to secure legislation designed to repress 

 insect pests, especially the San Jose scale, was referred to the executive 

 committee, which reported that it deemed it "inexpedient as a matter 

 of general policy for the Association to attempt to influence legislation 

 in the various States." This recommendation of the committee was 

 approved (see p. 556). 



W. T. Harris, United States Commissioner of Education, addressed 

 the convention on agricultural education, confining his attention 

 especially to the report of the committee on entrance requirements, 

 courses of study, and degrees. He commended the prominence 

 given to English branches in that scheme. He maintained that the 

 studies should be arranged with the object of taking the boy from the 

 farm, making him a man of directive power, and putting him back on 

 the farm. He considered it fortunate that instruction in mechanic arts 

 was associated with training in agriculture in these colleges. Instruc- 

 tion in agriculture labors under the great disadvantage of the lack of 

 pedagogic facilities. 



The committee appointed at the last convention submitted through 

 H. E. Alvord a report embodying a codification of all " the resolutions 



