196 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



February, 1922. 



search, problems but co-operation is 

 highly desirable. . 



20. POTATOES as 



Study of means of transmission and 

 control of diseases of the Potato. 

 This is an Eastern problem and 

 work is being done in N.B., P.E.I. , 

 N.S. and Maine on 



Leaf Roll 



Mosaic 



Black leg 



Root Rot 



21. SEEDS as 

 Grain Grading 



Grass and Clover seed production 



Quality of Seeds 



Seed Testing and Grading 



and 



22. TOBACCO as 

 Curing methods 



Breeding for improved varieties. 



Now it seems to me that co-operation in 

 research, if it is to have any chance to 

 succeed either as to tangible results or 

 as to duration and development, must be 

 organized and 'encouraged and the results 

 co-ordinated by some body of men chos- 

 en for this very purpose. Such a body or 

 board might, I think, legitimately be call- 

 ed, "Tine. International Research Coun- 

 cil." Its chairman should probably be a 

 salaried official ultimately, although not 

 necessarily such to begin with. Its secret- 

 ary would necessarily be a paid official, 

 while the other members of the board 

 might be expected to give their services 

 gratuitously or rather to take some of 

 the timi8 from their regular duties and 

 while receiving their regular salaries to 

 do the necessary work. Such a board 

 W'Ould, it seems to me, need to include 

 several groups or sections in order to in- 

 sure its work being done efficiently. 



As among its duties I might suggest : 



1. Deciding on problems to be dealt 

 with and preparing a list thereof. 



2. Inviting co-operation and suggest- 

 ing to workers that co-operation on such 

 and such a problem with such and such 

 other workers might be advisable. 



3. Inviting principal men interested 

 in an}' given line to discuss with them the 

 problems proposed for co-operation in 

 that line. At such a conference or in such 

 discussion would naturally be outlined 



the work the different workers would be 

 expected to carry on. 



4. Arranging to keep workers in touch 

 with each other and with each others 

 work. 



5. Serving as a bureau for recording 

 progress and arranging for co-ordination 

 of results. 



6. Arranging for publication in one or 

 both countries. 



7. Standardizing research methods. 



8. Standardizing in some measure at 

 least educational requirements for re- 

 search men. 



9. Arranging for comprebensive mon- 

 ographs on various subjects. 



10. Keeping in close touch with na- 

 tional and regional organizations inter- 

 ested in the problems being worked on, 

 as for instance : 



Amierican Ass'n. of Economic Entomol- 

 ogists. 



Western Agronomists. 



11. Encouraging the individual invest- 

 igator to show his individualty. 



12. Encouraging the organization of 

 regional or local organizations for the 

 study of various local problems, as 



Great Plains Section of American 

 Horticultural Society. 



13. Encouraging, and if possible ar- 

 ranging for interchange of students and 

 institutional workers. 



14. Arranging where necessary for the 

 financing of the board and of such pro- 

 jects as seem to be outside the field ,of 

 any salaried worker willing or able to co- 

 operate. 



I have condensed my remarks to the 

 verge of abruptness, for, as I need scar- 

 cely remark, this question of co-operation 

 in research is one in favour if which in- 

 terminable arguments might be advanced 

 with endless data in support. There is 

 I am sure, not a scientist in attendance 

 at these meetings who could not on the 

 spur of the moment enlarge upon the pos- 

 sibilities or advantages of co-operation 

 in connection with the solution of one or 

 another of the many problems now con- 

 fronting us in thesi? two countries, and 

 as I have stated, judging by letters I 

 have received, workers are all but un- 

 animous in approval of co-operation along 

 some line or another. 



