SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE 



September, 1921 



ficient revenue from its official organ to 

 cover the cost of publication. In other 

 ^vords the magazine must be self-supporting 

 and not be a financial burden carried by 

 the Society. 



In a.ssuraing this added i-esponsibility at 

 the heiglit of an industrial depression, the 

 Executive of the Society felt convinced that 

 the magazine was supplementing, in a much 

 needed manner, the periodical literature 

 already reaching the agriculturists of Can- 

 ada, and also believed that an official 

 organ was vital to the Society. It is the 

 link that binds the members and branches 

 together; it is the only medium through 

 which the work of the Society can be 

 brought to the attention of progressive 

 agriculturists and co-workers throughout 

 the Dominion ; and it furnishes a place in 

 which research workers and men foremost 

 in Canadian agricultural administration, 

 extension, etc., can give expression to their 

 views and publish the results of their work. 

 Having these considerations in mind, and 

 knowing that the personal co-operation and 

 direct interest of every member could be 

 depended upon, the conclusion drawn was 

 that the circulation of the magazine would 

 rapidly increase among non-members. 



To a movement sucli as is i-epresented in 

 the C. S. T. A., many commercial firnis 

 have something to contriliute: they may 

 therefore be expected to support such a 

 movement if they are going to benefit, 

 directly or indirectly.' from it. This argu- 

 ment furnished the foundation for an ad- 

 vertising policy whicli will be prom])t]y 

 developed and put into operation. The 

 circulation and advertising revenue neces- 

 sary for the successful carrying on of the 

 commercial programme were, for the rea- 

 sons stated, felt to be assured.. Whether 

 the Executive was justified in reaching 

 such a conclusion, will be best shown l)y 

 the success attending the piil)licati<ui of the 

 magazine under Society ownership. 



XITRO-BACTER SOIL VACCINE. 



President Klinck is exjjccted to return 

 early in September from Europe and will 

 meet some members of the C. S. T. A. Exe- 

 cutive at Gardenvale befoi-c he leaves foi- 

 "Vancouver. Full consideration will be 

 given to the programme of activities f<»r 

 the coming year and to the (piestion of 

 policy generally. 



In the June issue of Scientific Agricul- 

 ture, on page 266, an article appeared 

 under the title "A Bacteriological Analy- 

 sis and Cultural Test of Nitro-Bacter Soil 

 Vaccine", by Professor D. H. Jones. In 

 this article Professor Jones made the state- 

 ment that, judging from the sample with 

 which he was supplied, the vaccine was of 

 comparatively little value. 



This article came to the notice of Dr. 

 Frank M. Wood, President of the Nitro- 

 Bacter Soil Vaccine Corporation of Chica- 

 go who, in commenting upon Professor 

 Jones" article, points out that the analysis 

 made at the 0. A. C. and the cultural tests 

 conducted, were not from a fair sample of 

 the vaccine, and should not therefore be ac- 

 cepted as correct. It is claimed that in 

 one particular shipment of the culture, a 

 number of the organisms were either dead 

 or inactive, and it was from this shipment 

 that the 0. A. C. sample was taken. In all 

 cases of complaint, new supplies have been 

 furnislied, and we under.stand tliat a num- 

 ber of ncAv samples, for test purposes, are 

 being given to Professor Jones and other 

 bacteriologists. 



The manufacturers of the vaccine have 

 forwarded a number of testimonials re- 

 ceived from persons who have used the vac- 

 cine commercially and who state that it is 

 giving every satisfaction. It is impossible, 

 however, to come to any conclusion as to 

 the real merits of the vaccine, from a tech- 

 nical standpoint, until furtlier analyses 

 and tests have been made by qualified per- 

 sons. We have not as yet received the re- 

 sults of further tests now being conduct- 

 ed, either bv Professor Jones or by others. 



CORRECTING AN ERROR. 

 In the report of the Committee on Re- 

 search, published on page 243 of tlie June 

 issue, a list of those who assisted the Com- 

 mittee was included. The names of Profes- 

 sor M. ChamiJin of tlie T'niversity of Sas- 

 katchewan and of Mr. H. T. Gussow of the 

 Central Expei-iniental Farm at OttaAva 

 were inadvertently omitted. Both these 

 men furni.shed the Connnittee with very 

 valuable lists of rescarcli problems. 



