EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. 40. March, L919. No. 1. 



The annual convention of the Association of Southern Agricul- 

 tural Workers has become a noteworthy event among gathi nf 

 tho year, and one which concerns the experiment stations quite in- 

 timately. It brings together for conference the representatives of 

 the agricultural colleges and the departments of agriculture in the 

 Southern States, and with them other agencies which are laboring 

 .similarly for agricultural advancement in that section. It thus ex- 

 presses the broad common interest and the strength of a closer union. 



Starting some twenty years ago as a gathering of the Slate depart- 

 ments of agriculture, the scope has gradually broad) aed until it 

 includes the various agencies and lines of effort concerned in the 

 promotion of agricultural measures of regional interest. 1 3SO- 



ciation views problems not alone from the standpoint of investigation 

 and the dissemination of intelligence through teaching, bin in their 

 external relationships to the agricultural industry, and this has led 

 from time to time to inviting- representatives of business interests to 

 meet with the convention and discuss special topics. The dem< 

 of the organization is illustrated by the election to the presidency for 

 the coming year of Dr. Tail Butler, long associated with the agri- 

 cultural work of southern institutions but now connected with the 

 agricultural press. 



The meeting this year at Birmingham, Alabama, February 26 to 

 28, was no exception to the ride in the interest of the matters con- 

 sidered and the generally representative character of the attendance. 

 Over one hundred were present, and nearly all of the southern in- 

 stitutions were represented by men from their experiment stations, 

 extension divisions, or other departments. Invitations were extended 

 to the southern section of the American Phytopathological Society 

 and to the Association of Cotton Stales Entomologists to affiliate 

 with the association, which would broaden the scope further along 

 two important lines. 



In his presidential address Prof. J. F. Duggar, of Alabama, called 

 pertinent attention to the fundamental necessity of maintaining the 

 financial support of the experiment stations on a plane commensurate 

 with the importance of that branch of activity. The various interests 

 represented in the association made the i in an appropriate one 



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