EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XXIX. July, 1913. No. 1. 



The fourth session of the General Assembly of the International 

 Institute of Agriculture, held at Rome May 6 to 12, has directed at- 

 tention anew to the substantial progress which is gradually being 

 attained by this unique enterprise. It was eight years ago that the 

 institute, conceived by an American citizen, Mr. David I.ubin of 

 California, as a world's clearing house of agricultural information, 

 first assumed tangible form. Under the patronage of the King of 

 Italy the initial conference of representatives of forty countries met 

 in Rome in May, 1905, formally established the institute, and out- 

 lined in a preliminary way its functions and work. Subsequently 

 their action was ratified by most of the nations of agricultural im- 

 portance and pledges secured of cooperation in its financial support. 

 Permanent headquarters were established in Rome, where a palace 

 for its use was erected by the Italian Government. As the years 

 have gone by, the many complex problems incident to the organiza- 

 tion of so novel and extensive an undertaking have been nearing 

 solution, and each session of the General Assembly has marked an- 

 other milestone of progress. 



The General Assembly, it will be recalled by those familiar with the 

 plan of organization of the institute," is the governing or legislative 

 body. It usually meets biennially to review and approve the work 

 of the " Permanent Committee," which is the executive body, to 

 vote the institute budget, and to authorize any changes contemplated 

 in the plan and methods of work. It is composed of special dele- 

 gates appointed by the contributing countries, there being no restric- 

 tion on the number of delegates but in the decision of questions 

 each nation voting as a unit. At the recent assembly several rep- 

 resentatives were sent by most of the fifty-three contributing cbun- 

 tries. The delegates of the United States were Dr. A. C. True, desig- 

 nated by the Secretary of Agriculture; Prof. C. W. Pugsley, of the 

 college of agriculture of the University of Nebraska; Prof. T. J. 

 Brooks, of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College; 

 Mr. Spencer Ewing of Bloomington, 111. ; and Mr. David Lubin, the 



» For more detailed accounts of the organization and activities of the institute see 

 previous notes (E. S. R., 19, p. 501; 25, p. 5). 



