EDITORIAL. 605 



by the agriculturists themselves. Much importance is also attached 

 to the teaching of the subject of meteorology in the rural schools. 



Russia was the pioneer and is still the preeminent leader in the 

 organization of systematic investigations designed to determine 

 quantitatively the relation of different climatic factors to crop pro- 

 duction. The Russian service, organized as a branch of the ^linistry 

 of xVgriculture in 1897, has become so extensive and has been in 

 operation so long that it is now contributing a voluminous literature 

 on the more important phases of agricultural meteorology. This 

 serA'ice attempts the direct and quantitative correlation of meteoro- 

 logical conditions with plant growth by means of a comprehensive 

 system of experimental and observation fields, arranged for different 

 kinds and classes of crops. 



The work in Russia is furnishing a large amount of most valuable 

 exact information as to the climatic adaptations of plants, and their 

 critical periods and requirements as regards meteorological condi- 

 tions, especially temperature and precipitation. In addition to the 

 making of these more direct studies, the data of ordinary meteoro- 

 logical observations are being compiled in form to show periods of 

 growth of different crops and regions, and probable occurrence and 

 distribution of droughts. This is proving of great practical value 

 in determining the crops and the cropping systems most likely to 

 succeed in any given locality. 



The Russian experience and results are especially valuable, not 

 only in outlining the problems which must be solved, but in indi- 

 cating the lines and methods of attack. For some time to come the 

 question of methods applicable to conditions in the United States 

 will probably occupy a major share of attention of those attempting 

 to develop this field of inquir}^ The Russian plan is remarkably 

 comprehensive and complete, but it is not reasonable to assume that 

 it can be profitably adopted in its entirety in this country. A modi- 

 fication of the plan, adapted especially to the study of the relation 

 of meteorological conditions to the growth of spring wheat, has been 

 introduced into Canada. The work was begun in 1915, when fourteen 

 experimental and observation stations, well distributed over Canada, 

 were established, but the work has not yet been so thoroughly organ- 

 ized or proceeded far enough to warrant definite conclusions as to the 

 value of the method or the significance of the results obtained. 



The Russian plan includes the study of the relation of meteoro- 

 logical conditions to animal production as well as to plant produc- 

 tion, and quite possibly one of the important lines along which such 

 work may develop in this country is the more exact study of the rela- 

 tion of weather and climate to insects and fungus pests, particularly 

 as a good beginning has already been made in such studies by several 



