EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XV. October, 1903. No. 2. 



Amono- the important scientific meetings held during the past sum- 

 mer and earl}' fall were several whose fields border on agriculture and 

 horticulture, and which were this year of rather special importance. 

 This was the case despite the tendency on the part of a considerable 

 number of societies to change the time of their principal meetings from 

 the summer to the winter season. The month of September was espe- 

 cially rich in such meetings, and short accounts of several of them are 

 given in the present issue. 



By far the largest meeting of this kind was the Eleventh National 

 Irrigation Congress, held at Ogden, Utah, September 15-18. This 

 was attended by nearly 1,500 delegates and visitors, the largest attend- 

 ance in the history of the congress, and attracted specialists from the 

 agricultural colleges and experiment stations throughout the irrigated 

 region. 



The Secretary of Agriculture was present as a guest of the congress 

 and presented a paper setting forth quite fully the work of his Depart- 

 ment in relation to irrigation and the needs of that region. Tliis paper 

 was received with much interest and appreciation, and a resokition 

 indorsing the work of the Department was unanimously adopted in 

 open session. 



An extended programme of general and technical papers was pro- 

 vided, but so much time was taken up in general addresses and debates 

 that the majority of the special papers were presented onl}^ by title. 

 The interest of the congress was largely centered in the plans and 

 projects of the reclamation service under the national irrigation law, 

 and the repeal of certain land laws. The lengthy debate on the policy 

 of repealing the desert land act, the timber and stone act, and the 

 commutation clause of the homestead act was concluded Iw a compro- 

 mise resolution asking Congress to amend the laws so as to prevent 

 fraud. 



A novel and interesting feature of the congress was a very fine 

 display of the products of irrigation, exhibited in competition for 

 prizes. The prizes consisted of four silver cups, valued at $500 each, 



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