602 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOM>. 



Naturally, therefore, the subject held a prominent place on ti» pro- 

 gram of the convention. Its discussion was characterized by com- 

 mendable frankness and good spirit, and the desire for mutual un- 

 derstanding. A basis for the consideration was furnished by the 

 tentative suggesticms agreed to by the executive committee of the 

 association after conference with the Secretary of Agriculture last 

 summer, which were printed in the program of the meeting. These 

 suggestions related to the respective fields of the state and federal 

 institutions, plans for cooperation and correlation, for intercourse 

 through conunitte^, and the ctmduct of extension work. 



In his address at the opening of the convention the Secretary of 

 Agriculture expressed a frank realization that conditions have not 

 been what they should be, that there has been to some extent a dis- 

 persion of agricultural agencies within the States, and that the fed- 

 eral and state agencies " have not always worked with a unity of 

 purpose and a oneness of mind." Without minimizing the difficul- 

 ties of correcting this condition, the Secretary expressed the belief 

 that the present time is a peculiarly favorable one for the better 

 coordination of agricultural activities in the United States, and de- 

 clared that " certainly anything that reasonable human beings can 

 do to harmonize and coordinate the activities of the several agencies 

 which are serving the same people should be done. ... In my judg- 

 ment it can be done and should be done by the unselfish men directing 

 the several institutions of the States and of the Nation," without 

 compulsion of law. 



It is significant of the progress of the times that, as Secretary 

 Houston pointed out, both the Department and the agricultural col- 

 leges have felt the responsibility of getting the results of investigation 

 and experiment before the farmers promptly and effectively. " Both 

 sorts of agencies, federal and state alike, have information which 

 must be taken to the farmers. It would be idle to spend millions of 

 dollars to secure information and then to conceal it." In this matter 

 the Department and the colleges are attempting to educate the same 

 people, but in doing so there is danger of confusion and waste of 

 effort unless there is coordination. The Secretary declared em- 

 phatically that " the Department has no selfish institutional ambi- 

 tion. ... To the extent to which the States efficiently undertake 

 their tasks they will minimize the necessity for the operation of the 

 Federal Department of Agriculture." He voiced the conviction that 

 the agricultural colleges are the agencies which must primarily deal 

 with the individual farmer in the matter of education, and that what 

 the Department does in the direction of getting its information before 

 the people should be through cooperation with the several state 

 agencies. This position is in accord with his previously expressed 



