EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XVI July, 1905. No. 11. 



An important conference between representatives of this Depart- 

 ment and the experiment stations in the cotton-growing States was 

 held at Washing-ton June 27. The object of the conference was to 

 discuss informally matters relating to the cotton-boll weevil work, and 

 the means and methods of cooperation between the Department and 

 the stations in the conduct of this work. The meeting was attended 

 by the directors of the stations in North Carolina, South Carolina, 

 Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, and 

 Oklahoma, and quite generally by the men in charge of special lines 

 of work in the Department. 



The aims and objects of the meeting were explained by Secretary 

 Wilson and Dr. B. T. Galloway, following which the Department's 

 work on the various problems presented by the ravages of the cotton- 

 boll weevil and its probable spread were briefly outlined by represent- 

 atives of the various branches of the work — the cooperative work 

 with farmers by Dr. S. A. Knapp, the entomological and quarantine 

 work by Mr. W. D. Hunter, and the diversitication farms by Mr. W. 

 J. Spillman. In addition, the work of the Bureau of Soils in the South 

 was described by Mr. J. A. Bonsteel, and the feeding and breeding 

 w r ork with live stock in its relation to the Southern experiment sta- 

 tions by Mr. G. M. Rommel, of the Bureau of Animal Industry. 

 These talks were quite informal, and served to show the basis upon 

 which the work of the Department is conducted in the Southern States, 

 its relation to other agencies, methods of organization and manage- 

 ment, etc. 



The director of each station represented was then called upon for 

 suggestions as to what the Department might do to strengthen the 

 work of the stations in the cotton States, and for a statement of views 

 regarding cooperation. This brought out a very frank and free dis- 

 cussion, which developed into a consideration of the whole question 

 as to the relations of the Department and the stations, and the means 

 of adjustment so as to serve the best interests of all concerned. . 



The station men were a unit in expressing their desire for coopera- 

 tion, and their appreciation of the advantage which the Department 



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