NOTES. . 299 



in feeding as instances of ways in wliicli tlie agricultural scientist may render 

 direct service to the practical feeder. 



Labor and labor-saving machinery were considered by W. J. Maiden, who 

 pleaded for a reform in educational methods in rural schools to provide 

 opportunity for training in handling machinery. Thomas Wibberley discussed 

 the economics of continuous cropping with especial reference to results secured 

 by him in Ireland. A paper by D. MacPherson and W. G. Smith classified into 

 five types the upland grazing lands of Scotland with reference to their economic 

 value and possibilities of improvement. A. G. Ruston, under the topic The 

 Plant as an Index of Smoke Pullution, claimed a direct correlation between the 

 degree of atmospheric pollution and the activity of plant growth, the chemical 

 composition of the plant, the activity of the plant enzyms, and the vitality of 

 the seed. 



The problem of determining the cost of feeding in milk production was taken 

 up by J. Mackintosh, C. Crowther, and A. G. Ruston, and showed a diversity 

 in methods and opinions. A. Lauder reported experiments in feeding calcium 

 phosphate to cows without effect on either the yield or composition of milk. 

 The studies of Professor Crowther indicated that the method of milking may 

 have an appreciable influence on the milk and that the time factor apparently 

 enters into the problem. 



The meetings of the section were well attended and much interest is reported 

 in the papers and discussions. 



Progress in Agricultural Instruction in Latin America. — ^A recent decree of the 

 department of agriculture of Argentina established a practical home school of 

 figriculture at Tandil, the first of its kind to be founded in the Republic. An 

 industrial school for women and girls between the ages of 8 and 30 years has 

 been opened in the city of Buenos Aires for the purpose of teaching them useful 

 occupations. Similar schools are to be organized elsewhere. 



The President of Brazil, with the object of encouraging the growing of cotton, 

 has established a bureau of cotton in the department of agriculture, to conduct 

 experiments with different species and to give advice to agriculturists desiring 

 to engage in its cultivation. A recent executive decree also establishes an agri- 

 cultural chemical bureau in the city of Rio de Janeiro, to assist and cooperate 

 with persons engaged in agricultural pursuits and to aid in the development of 

 the industry. The governor of the State of Sao Paulo has appointed Emilio 

 Castelho, agronomist in the agricultural school at Sao Paulo, to study the 

 export business of grasses, Indian corn and other cereals, and alfalfa in 

 Argentina. 



The Government of Chile has appropriated $9,490 for the maintenance of the 

 agricultural farm and $8,358.50 for the agricultural school at the Quinta 

 Normal de Agricultura, Santiago. 



According to a recent message of President Alfredo Gonzales, of Costa Rica, 

 the results of the rural agricultural schools have been so satisfactory that the 

 department of agriculture proposes to establish 50 such schools with practical 

 and theoretical instruction, and to increase this number as the needs of the 

 counti-y require. A proposed plan for the founding of a school of industrial 

 arts and a school of agriculture in the cities of Alajuelita and Cartago is also 

 being considered. A new board of agricultural credit, with Ramon Solano as 

 president and Rosalia Carreras as secretary, has been organized in the Alajue- 

 lita Canton. The first annual celebration of Arbor Day was held by the public 

 schools on June 15, 1915. 



Doctor Arias of the department of agriculture of the Government of Cuba 

 has taken steps to introduce instruction in bee culture into the agricultural 

 schools of the Republic. Three agricultural schools have been established in 

 the Provinces of Pinar del Rio and Havana. 



