1019] BDITOB] \I . 307 



A merican Phytopathological Society, the American Society of Agron- 

 omy, the Botanical Society of America, the American Society for 

 Horticultural Science, the Society of American Bacteriologists, ;tn<l 

 the Society of American Foresters. A force of fully 100 collabo- 

 rators has already been organized, and comprehensive plans are 

 being worked out for absl racting as completely as possible the botani- 

 cal literature of the world, estimated to be scattered through from 

 two to three thousand serial publications. This sugge ts the wide 



range the journal IS intended to COVer and the interpretation to he 

 given to the field of applied hot any. 



The question of abstract journals has Likewise received attention 

 in Prance, although do definite plans are as yel available. The newly 

 established Superior Council for the Agronomic Stations and Agri- 

 cultural Laboratories of France has included among its proposed 

 activities the publication of reviews of publications in all countries 

 bearing on the field of these institutions, with a view to keeping their 

 workers posted and thus strengthening their activities. 



Regarding the present status of the German abstract journals, it 

 may be said that copies are gradually reappearing in this country. 

 It seems that with some modifications, such as consolidated numbers, 

 curtailments in space, and the like, most of these publications have 

 been continued. A recent note in Natwre states that the Deutsche 

 Chemische Gesellschaft has celebrated its jubilee by collecting a 

 fund of 2,500,000 marks for the more extensive publication of chemi- 

 cal works of reference. Announcement ha- also been made of ,i 

 ten-year agreement effective January 1, 1010, between the Deutsche 

 Chemische (iesellschaft and the Verein der Deutscher Chemiker f< r 

 the discontinuance of the "Referate" section of the Zeitschrift fur 

 angewandte Chemie, and in its stead the joint publication of ab- 

 stracts in Chi /ii/xcJn s Zentralblatt. The Verein der Deutscher 

 Chemiker is to contribute 25,000 marks per annum for this purpose. 



The growth of agencies in this country for agricultural education 

 and research, and especially agricultural schools and extension work. 

 has enlarged the range of those making use of Experii kUion 



Record and made it increasingly important to our system. The 

 Record is now in its thirtieth year, and with the close of the fiscal 

 year on July 1 will complete* its fortieth volume. In common with 

 other publications, it has suffered some handicaps during the war, 

 among them a depletion of its statf. a shortage of paper, and serious 

 congestion of publication facilities. These causes have collectively 

 contributed to regrettable delays in the assembling and printing of 

 abstracts, hut it is hoped that with the gradual improvement in con- 

 ditions less difficulty will henceforth he experienced. 



111401°— 19 2 



