EDITORIAL. 105 



for engineering work, as ■well as the extension of governmental aid 

 in the reclamation of unproductive public lands. Reports on the need 

 of training experts in agricultural machinery were submitted by 

 M. Lonay and by J. B. Davidson of the Iowa College. Papers were 

 also presented on agricultural tractors, the application of mechanical 

 energy in agriculture, dry farming, and rural roads. 



The section of economic forestry favored the conservation of 

 forests by the purchase and administration by the state of tracts of 

 protective value and the furnishing of expert advice to owners of 

 commercial holdings as well as the encouragement of reforestation. 

 Methods of preventing and fighting forest fires were considered, and 

 the formation of mutual insurance companies in which the state 

 might participate was advocated. A tejnporary depression in the 

 price of tan bark and firewood was reported in certain countries and 

 the suggestion indorsed of offsetting this by a bounty on these prod- 

 ucts. The introduction of desirable foreign species and systematic 

 experimentation as to their comparative behavior and economic 

 possibilities was also favored. 



At the closing session of the congress a proposition to organize an 

 interparliamentary union of agricultural representatives was ad- 

 vocated by M. Maenhaut, who believed that such a body would do 

 much to dignify the legislative status of agriculture and by annual 

 meetings help to obtain action on measures of importance. This 

 proposition met with considerable approval, and was referred to the 

 permanent commission of agriculture. Additional members were 

 selected for this commission as follows: Baron Eosenkranz of Den- 

 mark, Dr. A. C. True of the United States, Sir Sydney Olivier of 

 Great Britain, Edmond de Miklos and Louis de Szomjas of Hun- 

 gary, M. Croesen of Holland, and Count Louis de Vogii6 of France. 

 An invitation from the management of the Panama-Pacific Inter- 

 national Exposition to hold the eleventh congress at San Francisco 

 in 1915, in connection with the exposition, was referred to the com- 

 mission for decision. 



As at previous congresses, many social functions were arranged in 

 honor of the delegates, including receptions by the King of Belgium 

 and the Mayor of Ghent and several banquets. There were also 

 numerous excursions to near-by points of interest. Following the 

 congress sessions were held of the third International Congress of 

 Assocjations of Agricultural Women and the second International 

 Congress of Housekeeping Instruction. 



The references to the International Institute of Agriculture at this 

 congress indicated the growing realization of the value of the in- 

 stitute's work and the possibilities for its much greater usefulness. 

 As an organization for the systematic collection and diffusion of 



