LIRRAl^V 



BOTaMCaK 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



\'(.i.. 4;{. Dkck-M15i:i:, 1U2(). No. b. 



For \:n"ioiis reasons, the !*.>•_!() coiiNention of tlie Assofiiitioii o] 

 Laiid-jrraiit ('olle<ies was awaited witli unusual interest and some 

 forebotlin^s. Altlu)u<i:h it was the thirty-i'ourtli annual convention 

 of this body in point of continuity, it was the first to be schedided 

 since the adoption of the re\ised oonstitntion, carryino" with it a 

 new name and a considerably altered form of orfjani/ation and 

 manner of procedure. Under these circumstances there was naturally 

 some speculation as to the practical workings of the chant>es which 

 liad been eti'ected, and more or less uncertainty had been expressed 

 re<;a I'd i n<i: the j^rospective attitude and policies of the association in 

 its reconstructed form. Most of the difficulties which had been appre- 

 hended, however, failed to materialize, and the final outcome may 

 l»e characterized as unexj^ectedly successful and encoura<>;in<>\ 



In response to an in^'itation extended several years ago by the Mas- 

 >achusetts Agi'icultural College, the convention was arranged to con- 

 stitute a part of the series of important meetings centering around 

 tliat institution during the present academic year, Avhich represents 

 the fiftieth anniversary of the graduation of its first class of students. 

 I''or the better accommodation of the delegates, however, convention 

 head(|uarters were established in Springfield and the business sessions 

 were held in that city, with a visit to the college on the final day. 

 This arrangement was sub.stantially that followed at the only pre- 

 vious meeting of the association in Xew England, that at Xcav Haven 

 and Middletown, Conn., twenty years before. 



The convention was held from October 19 to October 2'2 and as 

 usual was preceded by gatherings of several other bodies. Its initial 

 session coincided with the termination of the third annual confer- 

 rnce of the American Country Life Association. Avhich had oj^i-ned 

 its proceedings October 1(> in a joint session at Amherst Avith the 

 American Civic Association. Th(> American Society of Agronomy, 

 the Society for the Pronujtion of .Vgricultural Science, and the Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Agricultural Teaching also met in 

 Springfield. October IS and ID. (loodly numbers, excellent j)ro- 

 grams. and well-sustained interest Avere the rule in these bodies, and 

 their sessions doubtless enhanced the number and i'ei)resentative 

 character of those participating in th(> lonvention itself. P>xact 



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