66 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE 



October 



as their science subject. As. however, the 

 importance of the subject is more gen- 

 erally perceived by those having the future 

 modification of our school curricula, let us 

 hope they will realize the desirability of 

 having a few, at least, of the fundamental 

 elementary truths of the science of bac- 

 teriology taught in all schools. This, of 

 course, would mean that tlie teachers should 

 get some bacteriology in their preparatory 

 training. Such may be difficult to achieve 

 at first. With us at the Agricultural Col- 

 lege it was a comparatively simple matter 

 to modify our course in general agricul- 

 tural bacteriology to meet the needs of the 

 Summer School student teachers getting 

 their training in elementary agriculture. 

 But the problem should not be insupi^rable. 

 The Departments of Bacteriology or Zymo- 

 logy at the T^niversity might be able to 

 meet the needs of the case. 



When we bear in mind that the life of 

 everv individual, Avhether he knows it or 



not, is . most intimately associated with 

 microorganisms from the hour of birth 

 until the hour of death, and that his well 

 being may be f)rofoundly modified for 

 weal or woe by such association, it ' seems 

 nothing short of criminal neglect for our 

 educational authorities to refrain longer 

 from including something of the science of 

 bacteriology among.st the subjects taught 

 in our elementary and high schools as well 

 as in certain of our iiigher educational ins- 

 titutions. 



DISEASES OF THE POTATO. 



It lias been suggested that a series of 

 articles dealing Avith diseases of the potato 

 Mould be acceptable to readers of Scienti- 

 fic Agricidiure and in view of the import- 

 ance of the potato crop the series should be 

 a useful one. Prof. B. T. Dickson has con- 

 sented to prepare the series, the first part 

 of which appears in this issue. 



Concerning the C.S.T.A. and Its Branches 



BY THE GENERAL-SECRETARY 



AN APOLOGY. 



In preparing the report of the first an- 

 nual Convention of the Canadian Society 

 of Technical Agriculturists, which was held 

 at Winnipeg in June last, an mifortunate 

 and regrettable omission was made. The 

 report was prepared hurriedly in order 

 that it might be published in the June issue 

 of Scientific Agriculture, and probaly lack 

 of time or space, or both, accounted for the 

 omission of one important courtesy extend- 

 ed at the Convention. 



On the occasion of the invitation which 

 was extended to the delegates and mem- 

 bers, to attend a banciuet at the Manitoba 

 Agricultual College on June 16th, the 

 Provincial Department of Agriculture 

 very kindly arranged for the preparation 

 of a souvenir menu. This souvenir was 

 given to each of those who attended the 

 banquet and it will doubtless be carefully 

 ])i-eserved, not only as a remembrance of a 

 most enjoyable evening but also as some- 



thing emblematic and typical of the Can- 

 adian west. 



This souvenir was prepared by Miss E. 

 Cora Hind, agricultural and commercial 

 Editor of the Manitoba Free Press, and the 

 interesting and statistical marginal re- 

 ferences to historical incidents in western 

 Canadian history, as well as the many 

 quotations used in presenting a "Mani- 

 toba banquet", must have entailed a great 

 deal of effort and a vast amount of read- 

 ing. 



Forgetfulness and oversight, and not 

 lack of deep aiipreciation, accounts for the 

 delay in acknowledging this courtesy. 



ALBERTA REPRESENTATIVE ON 

 DOMINION EXECUTIVE. 



Mr. H. A. Craig, Deputy Minister of 

 Agriculture for Alberta, has been appoint- 

 ed to represent that province on the Dom- 

 inion Executive of the C. S. T. A. for the 

 current vear. 



