The International Institute of Agriculture. 131 



things increases tremendously with the march of science. Wood 

 for paper pulp in place of rags has alone meant an enormous 

 consumption of timber. The destructive distillation of wood 

 opens up wonderful possibilities of further demand for wood. 

 "Wood becomes more valuable every day, through the by- 

 products of its constituent elements, quite apart from its use 

 as timber. 



Independently of the increased prices which undoubtedly 

 can be secured by better methods of marketing our timber, the 

 general prospects are surely promising. Unbiassed and inde- 

 pendent consideration of these points must be convincing as to 

 the need for encouraging forestry in this country. 



Farnham Common, M. C. DUCHESNE, F.S.I. 



Slough. 



THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 

 AGRICULTURE. 



The object of this article is to show what the International 

 Institute of Agriculture is doing and what it hopes to do for 

 agriculturists, and little space need be devoted to the story of 

 how it came into existence. This story has already been told in 

 " bluebooks," and can be read by any one interested. In 

 January, 1905, H.M. the King of Italy addressed a letter to his 

 Government giving a broad outline of a proposal to establish 

 an International Institute of Agriculture, which had been 

 suggested to him by Mr. David Lubin, a citizen of the United 

 States. As a result of this letter communications were sent by 

 the Italian Government to each of the Governments of the world, 

 in which it was suggested that a diplomatic Conference should 

 be held in Rome in May, 1905, to consider the matter. The 

 Conference met, and a Convention embod^ang the results of 

 its deliberations was signed on June 7, 1905, establishing the 

 Institute and defining its objects. At that time the number of 

 adhering States was forty, but the number has since been 

 increased to fifty. The Institute was established as an official 

 institution, and it is supported by grants from each of the 

 adhering States. It is thus on an entirely different footing 

 from other international associations and institutions which, 

 although recognised by Governments, are nevertheless private 

 institiitions. The building in which the Institute is housed 

 was the gift of the King of Italy, and is admirably suited for 

 its purpose. The final direction of, and responsibility for, the 

 work of the Institute, is vested in a General Assembly com- 

 posed of delegates appointed by the contributing Governments, 



F 2 



