EDITORIAL,. 3 



gaged in agricultural investigation, but it is not open to contributed 

 articles of comment or discussion, and no journal published under 

 governmental auspices can be. With all the multiplicity of journals 

 this field is still unoccupied. It is one of the real needs of agricultural 

 investigation. 



The proposal for an affiliation of the societies for agricultural 

 science has been under consideration for two or three years, the 

 initiative being taken by one of the societies concerned. The atten- 

 tion of various organizations has been called to the matter, and it 

 has been discussed by them to some extent. This year a meeting 

 Avas held of delegates from 12 societies to consider a plan for affilia- 

 tion which may be submitted to the various societies as a basis for 

 action. 



This plan took the form of a constitution, which was drawn up at 

 the meeting and left in the hands of a secretary to bring to the 

 attention of the different societies at their next meetings. The pro- 

 posed affiliation does not disturb the autonomy of the various socie- 

 ties in any manner, but in providing for a central organization it 

 paves the way for two important steps, namely, a meeting biennially 

 of the various societies at the same place and time as far as prac- 

 ticable, and the publication of a scientific journal to meet the com- 

 mon needs of the societies. This could serve as a medium for dis- 

 cussion, reports in abstract of the meetings of the societies, notices, 

 reviews, and contributions of general interest in the field of agri- 

 cultural science. 



The interests of the affiliation are placed in the hands of a council 

 composed of members elected from the various societies embraced 

 in the affiliation. This council will facilitate the more orderly and 

 uniform publication of proceedings, and is empowered to make the 

 necessary arrangements for issuing a journal of agricultural science 

 as an organ of the affiliation. 



If the Avork in agricultural science is to attract the attention of 

 scientific men and of the public as it deserves, there must be some 

 agency for drawing together the activities and the results in place 

 of the differentiation and segregation which have been going on of 

 late. These various societies have enough of common interest, in 

 that they focus on agriculture, to serve as a logical basis' for an 

 organization to promote their mutual interests. Aside from the 

 advantages Avhich avouIcI accrue to the societies themselves, such an 

 organization would promote publicity and give the impression of 

 some degree of unity in the broad moA^ement for the advancement of 

 science in its relations to agriculture. 



If without interfering in any Avay Avith the existing societies some 

 such plan of affiliation can be effected, an important step Avill be 



