EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. 38. June, 1918. No. 8. 



From time to time reference has been made in these columns to the 

 progress and development of the International Institute of Agri- 

 culture at Rome. This unique institution, conceived to bring to- 

 gether the nations of the world for the advancement of agricultural 

 interests through cooperative endeavor, has been from its inception a 

 very interesting undertaking. Organized after many discourage- 

 ments and delays, and regarded even after its establishment with 

 some skepticism, it has entered upon a number of important fields of 

 service and has demonstrated its capacity for usefulness in many 

 directions. 



The Institute has now completed its first decade of active opera- 

 tions. Much of this period has been necessarily devoted to problems 

 of organization. The number of countries supporting it financially 

 has been increased from forty to fifty-six, representing fully ninety- 

 eight per cent of the entire population of the world. To enlist and 

 retain the cooperation and support of these nations for so novel an 

 enterprise has been in itself no small achievement. In addition a 

 permanent organization has been effected, a staff of about one hun- 

 dred regular employees has been built up, several series of publica- 

 tions established, and tangible progress made on numerous projects 

 of importance. 



It will be recalled by those familiar with the history of the In- 

 stitute that responsibility for its establishment belongs primarily to 

 two men. The idea originated with an American, Mr. David Lubin, 

 of California, who has from the beginning remained the representa- 

 tive of the United States on the permanent committee. In carrying 

 the project into effect, Mr. Lubin obtained the active support of King 

 Victor Emmanuel of Italy, upon whose invitation an international 

 conference was held in Rome in 1905. This conference formulated 

 a treaty under which, upon the ratification of the various nations, the 

 Institute was permanently located in Rome. 



The king erected a palace in 1908 as the headquarters of the In- 

 stitute, and provided an annual fund of about $60,000 toward its 

 support. The greater part of its budget, however, is supplied by the 

 adhering nations on a cooperative basis from subscriptions ranging 



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