i 9 4 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



pie, how may we adjust the administrative functions of 

 a department of agriculture and the educational func- 

 tions of a college of agriculture? We find in Wash- 

 ington half a dozen or more bureaus or boards dealing 

 with matters of agricultural education. If these can- 

 not be consolidated, at least they ought to be forced to 

 cooperate intimately and freely and unreservedly. 

 Perhaps an agricultural development committee in each 

 state and in Washington might be a means of grace in 

 this connection. The British Agricultural Develop- 

 ment Committee is virtually an advisory committee to 

 Parliament. It has no direct authority, but its recom- 

 mendations as to appropriations and as to the work of 

 the different governmental agencies, both national and 

 local, carry far in Parliament. Some such group au- 

 thorized by law, and composed of representatives of 

 the public agencies involved, with additional members 

 appointed by the President and in the state by gov- 

 ernors, might be able to secure the necessary coopera- 

 tion of governmental agencies. The war has im- 

 mensely increased here in America the ambitions and 

 activities of various governmental agencies. It is not 

 too strong a statement to say that we are on the verge 

 of chaos with reference to the inter-relationships of 

 public boards, departments and bureaus. It is a seri- 

 ous situation and there is only one way out. There 

 must be cooperation, if not voluntary, then compulsory. 

 Information. Whatever our conclusions as to the 

 place of the government dealing with agricultural mat- 

 ters, there is clearly one task that it can perform better 

 than any other agency and which is evidently its duty. 

 That is the task of discovering and disseminating in- 

 formation. This function embraces the necessity for 

 accurate investigations, for wise and clear interpreta- 



