422 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



presented; und the Societ}' for llorticulturul Science formed at Boston 

 last summer carried out a quite lengthy programme. 



The initial meetinos of these organizations developed an enthusiasm 

 for earnest work which promises to make them useful factors in pro- 

 moting investigation and advancement along their respective lines. 

 They also increased the general confusion and conflict of programmes 

 which has been evident in the past, and made it increasing]}' difficult 

 to follow up the papers in a particular line. This became so apparent 

 that joint sessions of several of the associations were held to listen to 

 papers covering common ground. 



A brief account of the papers relating to agricultural science which 

 were presented at the St. Louis meeting will be given in the next 

 issue. 



The attention which the subject of rural economics received is 

 w^orthy of special mention, in view of the increasing interest on the 

 part of associations of various sorts in matters pertaining to agricul- 

 ture and rural life. This is an encouraging indication of the impress 

 being made in directing popular attention to agricultural education 

 and investigation, and the improvement of farm life. 



One session of the section on Social and Economic Science was given 

 up to the economic aspects of agriculture. Four papers were read. 

 In the first, on The Function of Forestry in the New Agriculture, T. 

 H. Sherrard called attention to the fact that from one-third to one- 

 half of the forests of the United States belong to farmers, and that 

 their interest in forestry is primarily concerned with the maintenance 

 of wood lots in a productive condition. The method of cooperation 

 which the Bureau of Forestry carries on with farmers in managing 

 forest areas was outlined, and a brief account given of the science of 

 sylviculture as related to farming. 



C. F, Curtiss, of Iowa, discussed The Econonuc Functions of Live 

 Stock, pointing out the relationship between live stock and the main- 

 tenance of fertility of the soil, and urging the advantages to the soil 

 and from a business standpoint of combining crop growing and animal 

 production. Animal by-products, which were at first used solely as 

 fertilizers, have nearly all been found to be valuable feeding stuffs for 

 farm animals. They are now^ first fed to animals and later returned 

 to the soil as manure. The speaker expressed the hope that when 

 diversified farming and animal industry are properly combined the 

 use of artificial fertilizers may become unnecessary. 



Agricultural Economics was the subject of a paper by H. C. Taylor, 

 of Wisconsin, which was treated from the standpoint of instruction and 

 of agricultural practice. The chief problem in agriculture is how to 

 secure the largest net return from the land. The productive efficiency 

 of the farmer was stated to vary as greatl}^ as the fertility of the soil, 

 and it was urged that theoretically the degree of efficiency of the 



