300 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



Mooers ; The Work of the Committee on Seed Stocks, by R. A. Oakley : and A 

 Reason for Contradictory Results in Corn Experiments, by Lyman Carrier. 



The usual reports of the standing committees of the society were omitted. 

 The executive committee was asked to ascertain the sentiment of the members 

 toward meeting with Section M (agriculture) of the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, rather than with the Association of American 

 Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations as now provided for in the 

 constitution. 



Officers were elected as follows : President, J. G. Lipman ; vice presidents, 

 F. S. Harris and A. B. Conner; and secretary-treasurer, Lyman Carrier. 



Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science. — The thirty-ninth :in- 

 nual meeting of this society, held in Baltimore January 6 and 7, was opened 

 with the usual joint session with the American Society of Agronomy. The 

 presidential address for the society was given by Dr. Herbert Osborn, upon the 

 subject The Problem of Permanent Pasture with Special Reference to its Bio- 

 logical Factors. Dr. Osborn discussed some of the complex relations between 

 the various forms of animal and plant life entering into the pasture problem, 

 and suggested its fitness as a subject for coordinated research through some 

 central agency such as the society. 



President W. < >. Thompson presented an account of his observations of agri- 

 cultural conditions in England and France in connection with the visit of the 

 Agricultural Commission to Europe. A great difference was found in the con- 

 ditions prevailing in the two countries, with a corresponding divergence in the 

 farm practices followed and needs for the future. 



At the remaining sessions papers were presented as follows: Occurrence of 

 Nitrates in Sugar Beet Soils and in Wheat, by W. P. Headden; Use of Wood 

 for Fuel, by F. W. Rane; More Study of Pastures and Pasture Needs, by M. L. 

 Fisher; Poisonous Plants, by O. A. Beath ; Relation of the Society for the Pro- 

 motion of Agricultural Science to Extension Work, by D. W. Working; A 

 Study in Community Cattle Breeding, by J. II. Sheppard; Some Codling Moth 

 Life History Studies, by C. P. Gillette and O. M. List ; Seasonal Variations in 

 the Butter Fat Content of Milk in Southern Arizona, by R. W. Clothier; 

 Training Students for Soil Specialists, by H. J. Wilder; Lime as a Factor in 

 Soil Fertility, by J. G. Lipman and A. W. Blair; and Utilizing Soil Potash by 

 Means of Intermediary Crops, by A. W. Blair. 



The functions and future policy of the society wore subjects of considerable 

 discussion. Its usefulness as a forum for the presentation and discussion of 

 papers relating to agricultural science as a whole rather than the reporting of 

 investigations in specialized fields was pointed out. and likewise its opportu- 

 nity for service in the coordination of some of the more complicated problems. 

 The question of affiliation and meeting with section M of the American Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science was also taken up, although a recom- 

 mendation to the executive committee was ultimately adopted advocating the 

 holding of the next annual meeting as usual with the Association of American 

 Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations. 



Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, R. W. 

 Thatcher; vice president, B. L. Hartwell ; and secretary-treasurer, J. G. Lip- 

 man. F. B. Liniield was elected as a member of the executive committee. 



o 



