304 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



heavy waste in retail cutting, and at ordinary storage temperatures 

 it is said to be impossible to prevent standard cuts from dripping 

 oil which not only means an additional loss but affects the appear- 

 ance of the meat. 



This problem is therefore seen to be one of unusual importance. 

 The rapidly increasing hog production in the South makes the 

 thorough, systematic study of the whole question of the effect of feed 

 on quality of product a matter which can not be overlooked. Con- 

 siderable attention has already been given to it, but such features 

 as the transference or replacement of fat. the physiological aspects 

 of the change, the period for hardening pork. etc.. remain distinctive 

 lines of study for the southern stations. There can be little doubt 

 that in working out the practical and research features of this prob- 

 lem there would be marked advantage from united, correlated effort 

 in place of the quite independent and disassociated action of the 

 past. 



The association has committed itself quite definitely to the de- 

 sirability of closer union in station work, ami has done much through 

 its meeting- for several years past to propagate the idea ami gain 

 for it. The work of it< committees lias blocked out 

 prominent feature- in the field of experimental inquiry in the South- 

 ern Stales, and formulated procedure for a further unification of 

 plans ami methods. Through these committees the association has 

 therefore b< me an effective means of promoting cooperation, coor- 

 dination, and systematized effort in the study of southern problems. 

 It is prepared to serve as a medium for bringing together groups 

 of workers engaged on Bubjects common to them, in order that there 

 may at least he mutual understanding in the further conduct of 

 their experiments. 



The provision of such an agency is an important advantage, for 

 while such a joining of effort must necessarily he voluntary and as 

 free as possible from set machinery, some means is usually required 

 to furnish the initiative and make definite proposals. Where this 

 agency directly represents the institutions themselves it- position is 

 strengthened and the - _ >tion of self-intere-i or domination is 

 removed. The association deserves credit and support for the po- 

 sition it has taken and the movement it has set in motion. 



An interesting discussion has been going on for some time in 

 a number of scientific periodicals of the Allied nations regarding 

 the effect of the war on the various abstract journals and similar 

 bibliographical mediums upon which scientific workers have come 

 to depend quite largely for information as to the current status of 

 research. An increasing conviction seems to be developing that more 

 adequate provision should be made for the establishment and main- 



