706 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.38 



ticularly to the agricultural press of the world, and have proved very 

 successful in securing extensive dissemination of the findings of the 

 Institute. 



In addition to the service rendered by its publications, the Insti- 

 tute is empowered under the treaty of establishment to submit to 

 the various governments " measures for the protection of the common 

 interests of farmers and for the improvement of their conditions." 

 This function has been attempted in several directions. 



Reference has already been made to eiforts to standardize crop 

 statistical reports. As one step along this line the Institute has advo- 

 cated the general employment of the metric system. The introduction 

 of dry farming practices employed in this country has been suggested 

 to various other nations, and it is stated that the suggestion has met 

 with favorable response in Hungaiy, Russia, Italy, Spain, Greece, 

 Algeria, and Tunis. 



The international protection of birds useful to agriculture, hail 

 insurance and other meteorological problems extending far beyond 

 national boundaries, and the combating of the spread of locusts n>ay 

 be cited as other features of endeavor. The Institute suggested the 

 holding of the International Congress of Phytopathology, which met 

 in Rome in 1914, and has proposed to the International Meteorologi- 

 cal Committee the formulation of a program of an international 

 service of agricultural meteorology. 



The operations of the Institute have been, of course, profoundly 

 affected by the war. At the begimiing of hostilities its very exist- 

 ence seemed dubious. As its vice-president, M. Louis-Dop, has 

 pointed out in a recent report reviewing its history and progress, the 

 question was immediately raised as to the possibilty of maintaining, 

 in a conflict which has transformed the political and economic con- 

 ditions of every continent, an organization based upon the collabora- 

 tion of nations, the working together of a committee representing all 

 the powers, belligerent or neutral, and the efforts of a personnel of 

 international composition. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the 

 continuation of the enterprise was decided upon. Apparently it was 

 felt that the Institute had been established as a permanent institution 

 and the suspension of its :)perations should be avoided if possible. 

 More than this, it was expected that the usefulness of the Institute 

 to the world would be in many ways intensified by the war conditions. 



The work of the Institute has, therefore, been carried on so far as 

 possible. No nation has abrogated the treaty, so that all are full 

 members as before. Meetings of the permanent committees have 

 been held regularly, and each of the bureaus has been performing 



