608 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



colleges are now proceeding rapidly with the formation of depart- 

 ments for extension work. In this way they are being brought into 

 much closer personal touch with the agricultural people. This is 

 already giving the colleges a new and broader view of the problems 

 of rural life. The varied human needs of agricultural communities 

 and the dignity and worth of agricultural people are being borne in 

 uj)on the colleges as never before. The movement for agricultural 

 education is no longer a narrow and intellectual paternalism in which 

 the few are condescending to advise the many. It is being more and 

 more permeated with the spirit of comradeship and good fellowship 

 in which all are uniting to advance a common cause. This drawing 

 together of the institutions for agricultural education and the people 

 should make it much easier to get at the real heart of rural economic 

 and social questions and in the end exercise a profound influence 

 toward their satisfactory solution. 



That the great impetus which science has in recent years given to 

 agriculture in the United States has also been felt in other American 

 republics is shown by the activity which has been displayed in many 

 of these countries in reorganizing old and establishing new agricul- 

 tural institutions, by increased demand upon this country for men to 

 take charge of these institutions, and by the large number of young 

 men of these countries seeking advanced training in agriculture in the 

 United States. 



Evidence of the importance which science applied to agriculture is 

 assuming in other American republics was furnished by the Fir^t Pan- 

 American Scientific Congress recently held at Santiago, Chile, which 

 was attended by representatives from all of the American republics 

 except Haiti, and at which discussion of subjects related to agricul- 

 tural education and research formed a prominent feature of the pro- 

 ceedings. A section of the congress was devoted exclusively to the 

 consideration of such subjects, and steps were taken to make this 

 feature even more prominent at the next congress, which is to be held 

 at Washington in 1912. 



It is believed that those in this country interested in the broad 

 development of agricultural education and research and in extending 

 and strengthening our scientific relations with other countries, partic- 

 ularly those of continental America, will find in this congress a valu- 

 able means to this end. Attention is therefore particularly called to 

 the account of the Santiago congress which is given on page 695 of 

 this number of the Record, and occasion is here taken to emphasize 

 the importance of making the agricultural education and research 

 features of the Washington congress worthily representative of the 

 progress in these subjects in America and an incentive and aid to 

 future development. 



