1918] EDITORIAIi. 405 



Expressions like this have a familiar sound in this country, for 

 they reflect the spirit and the conviction upon which our system of 

 State and Federal aid has been built up. 



In spite of the terrible ordeal through which France is passing, 

 reconstruction work is already under way and plans are actively 

 being made for future activity at the close of the war. These plans 

 as related to agriculture look toward the amelioration of the condi- 

 tion of the farmers, the regeneration of agricultural communities, 

 and a more highly intelligent use of the land as a result of enlarged 

 means for acquiring and spreading agricultural knowledge. These 

 movements speak eloquently of the enterprise, the foresight, and the 

 undaunted courage of the French people. 



The work of reconstructing the devastated parts of France has 

 been proceeding actively for over a year under the leadership of the 

 head of the Office of Agricultural Reconstruction. The industry 

 has been aided by provision for the purchase and resale or allotment 

 of seed, fertilizers, nursery stock, cattle, etc., by the introduction of 

 farm motors for plowing and cultivating, and in many other ef- 

 fective ways. Through the French Ministry of Agriculture and the 

 agricultural cooperative societies, unusual credit facilities have been 

 provided farmers for rebuilding, restocking, and restoring their farms 

 to productive condition. Much interest attaches to the published 

 articles in the press and scientific journals from leaders in agricul- 

 tural thought in that country, in relation to the measures for reha- 

 bilitating agriculture after the war. Among the plans to that end, 

 increased facilities for agricultural research have figured promi- 

 nently. 



Reference was made in a previous issue to the report of a commis- 

 sion of the French Academy of Science, which laid stress on the 

 necessity for reorganizing the whole system of research, instruc- 

 tion, and assistance in agriculture in that country. Since then other 

 papers dealing with the subject have appeared under different 

 auspices, showing how widespread is interest in the subject, and 

 testifying to the confidence which is felt in the effectiveness of re- 

 search as a means of advancement. Reference may be made to two 

 of these papers by men whose names are familiar to us in this 

 country. 



In a communication to the Academy of Agriculture of France, 

 Prof. Edmund Gain, director of the Institute of Agriculture at the 

 University of Nancy, discusses the means for increasing agricultural 

 production and outlines a plan for the reorganization of a series of 

 agricultural stations in the various districts on a somewhat novel 

 plan. He regards the reestablishment of the agricultural industries 

 on a firm basis after the war as the only way in which the country 



