NOTES. 297 



work is to be under the general supervision of C. P. Norgard, wlio has recently 

 been elected assistant agronomist. 



Other recent additions to the college and station staff include J. C. Marquis, 

 editor, C. S. Hean, librarian, and the following assistants : W. A. Brannon, 

 fertilizer and feed inspection ; B. W. Hammer, agricultural bacteriology ; R. R. 

 Marshall and H. L. Walster, soils; and H. Steenbock, agricultural chemistry. 



President C. R. Van Hise recently received the degree of LL. D. from 

 "Williams College. 



Wyoming Station. — Alkali investigations have been taken up by the station 

 with reference to the removal of the injurious alkali salts from the farm 

 recently acquired, combined with a study of the underlying principles of alkali 

 poisoning. F. S. Burrage has been appointed secretary to the board of trus- 

 tees, vice Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard, who retains the secretaryship of the 

 station council. 



Experimental Work in Forestry.— It is announced that the Forest Service of 

 this Department is to establish experimental forests in typical forest regions of 

 the West for the investigation of forest problems. A tract already set aside at 

 Flagstaff, Ariz., in the Coconino National Forest is to be devoted to a study of 

 the reproduction of western yellow pine, which is not now making a satisfactory 

 second growth. 



A comprehensive study of the use and effect of wind-breaks and shelter belts 

 is also contemplated, this to be in part in cooi)eratiou with the State experiment 

 stations. 



Commission on Country Life. — President Roosevelt has appointed two ad- 

 ditional members of the commission, Chas. S. Barrett of Union City, Ga., presi- 

 dent of the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America, and Wm. ' 

 A. Beard of Sacramento, Cal. Dr. E. W. Allen of this Office is acting as 

 executive secretary of the commission. 



Farmers' National Congress. — The 1908 session of this body was especially 

 noteworthy as the first to be held at an agricultural college, the meetings taking 

 place at the University of Wisconsin, September 24-30. Over eleven hundred 

 delegates and visitors were in attendance, the largest number ever registered. 

 Among the speakers were Hons. W. H. Taft, W. J. Bryan, and J. J. Hill. Presi- 

 dent C. R. Van Hise, of the university, gave au address on The Conservation of 

 the National Resources, and there were numerous demonstrations and lectures 

 by Dean Russell, Professors Moore, Humphrey, and Alexander, and other mem- 

 bers of the faculty. Among the resolutions adopted by the congress may be 

 noted those endorsing the work of the agricultural colleges and urging the State 

 legislatures to supply adequate financial support, favoring the movement for 

 the conservation of the national resources, and approving the provisions of the 

 Davis bill for the development of secondary agricultural education. 



Conservation League of America. — The Conservation League of America has 

 recently been organized with President Roosevelt as honorary president, and 

 Hons. W. H. Taft and W. J. Bryan as honorary vice-presidents, and Walter L. 

 Fisher as president. The league has chosen for its statement of principles the 

 declaration adopted by the Conference of Governors, convened by the President 

 May 13-15. Its purpose is announced to be " the bringing into closer relation 

 and more intelligent cooperation the unofficial associations which have a common 

 interest in the broader aspects of the conservation movement." 



American Association for the Advancement of Science. — At the invitation of 

 the Johns Hopkins University, the sixtieth meeting of this association will be 

 held in Baltimore, from December 2s, 1908, to January 2, 1909. In addition 

 to the usual section programmes a symposium on public health will be held 



