NOTES. 499 



Membership in the congress is open to official delegates of the countries 

 represented, representatives of the universities, institutes, societies, and 

 scientific bodies of these countries, and others who may be invited by the 

 executive committee. Americans prominent in the field of science may also 

 be appointed honorary members by the executive committee. 



The official languages of the congress will be English, Spanish, Portuguese, 

 and French. All papers should be received by October 1 and should be accom- 

 panied by resumes of not over 1,500 words followed by a footnote giving a 

 bibliography of the subject. It is suggested that papers have special reference 

 to the trend of recent progress and probable development in the innnediate 

 future. 



Federal Agricultural Legislation. — Practically all the agricultural legisla- 

 tion to be completed at the closing session of the Sixty-third Congress was 

 embodied in the agricultural and other appropriation acts, discussetl e<litorially 

 in this issue. A standard barrel was prescribed for fruits, vegetables, and 

 other dry commodities. For commodities other than cranberries, this standard 

 barrel must contain 7,056 cubic inches, while that for cranberries must have 

 staves 28.5 inches in length and not greater tlian 0.4 inch in thickness, a diam- 

 eter of head of 16.25 inches, a distance between heads of 25.25 inches, and a cir- 

 cumference of bulge of 5S.5 inches, outside measurement. Sales of these com- 

 modities, except by weight or measure, in barrels of smaller capacity than these 

 standards or subdivisions known as thirds, halves, or three-fourths barrels are 

 prohibitetl under penalty of a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not ex- 

 ceeding 6 months, except that foreign shipments may be made which comply 

 with the laws of the importing country. Reasonable variations are permitted 

 under regulations to be established by the Department of Commerce. The act 

 becomes effective July 1, 1916. 



Under another act, one section of each township in the Tanana Valley, 

 Alaska, is, with certain exceptions, reserved for the support of a territorial 

 agricultural college and school of mines. A tract of four sections near Fair- 

 banks is, aside from existing claims, granted to the Territory as a site for this 

 institution. A portion of this tract is now occupied by the Fairbanks substa- 

 tion, and the act provides that it may continue to be used for that puiiiose until 

 otherwise ordered by the President or Congress. 



Agriculture and Domestic Science in Missouri High Schools. — According to a 

 study recently made by W. J. Bray, professor of chemistry at the State Normal 

 School, Kirksville, Mo., agriculture is the only recognized high school science 

 that shows any gain in its percentage of enrollment for the 9 years from 1905 

 to 1914, viz, 300 per cent, while the enrollment in science as a whole, excluding 

 domestic science, has declined from 64.4 to 49.2 per cent. Domestic science, 

 though not taught as a science, has increased its enrollment from 9.3 per cent 

 in 1906, when it was introduced into the high schools of Missouri, to 13.3 per 

 cent in 1914. It is concluded that science is not holding its own because, as 

 taught, it is failing to meet the popular demand for a practical usable educa- 

 tion, and that there is no room in the secondai'y school for science for science 

 sake. 



Agriculture in Tennessee High Schools. — To adapt county high schools to the 

 operations of the Smith-Lever act, an experiment is being made in the new 

 Tennessee high school course of study in dividing the year into three terms of 

 12 weeks each instead of two terms of 18 weeks each. The demonstrators in 

 agriculture and home economics are to spend the fall and spring terms in the 

 field and the winter term in the high schools. Plans are being made for short 

 courses for adults during these winter terms at several of the high schools. 



