EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XX. January, 1901). No. .5. 



The recent convention of the Association of American Agricultural 

 Colleges and Experiment Stations, of which a brief account is given 

 in the present number of the Record . brought out very clearly the 

 growing tendency to confine the functions of this association to mat- 

 ters relative to the more general problems connected with the organi- 

 zation and management of the institutions represented in the 

 association. The great growth of these institutions and the ex- 

 pansion of the scope and variety of the educational and research 

 enterprises under their control have greatly complicated their organi- 

 zation and brought to their managers many problems which in de- 

 tail at least are ditferent from those of other educational and scien- 

 tific institutions. It is therefore very important that these institu- 

 tions shall have a common meeting ground where the general 

 principles governing the solution of these newer problems of educa- 

 tion and research may be thoroughly discussed Avith a view to the 

 establishment of standards, the differentiation of the local and com- 

 mon characteristics of the problems, and the elucidation of the 

 various difficulties in the light of experience from many sources. As 

 a delegate body, consisting chiefly of the presidents of colleges and 

 directors of experiment stations, the association is especially qualified 

 for work in this field. This has further been facilitated by the 

 changes in the organization of the association which has limited the 

 number of sections and committed so much important work to stand- 

 ing committees. Recent experience has indicated the desirability of 

 carrying the plan involved in this organization further toward its 

 logical conclusion. It has become clearer that papers of a technical 

 character dealing with the methods and results of special researches 

 are out of place in such an association. Care should therefore be 

 taken in arranging the programmes so to word the questions to be 

 discussed that the presentation of such technical matters will clearly 

 be out of order. It also seems desirable further to restrict the number 

 of matters to be brought forward at any one meeting. Considering 

 the wide territory covered by the institutions and the consequent 

 difference in point of view on many questions, it is very desirable 

 that there should be opportunity for full discussion so that the con- 



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