January, 1921. 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE 



EDITORIAL 



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HISTORICAL SENTIMENT. 



Doubtless every new pulilieatioii that is launched into 

 the field of periodical literature has, as its opening 

 editorial, something intended to be of interest either a.^ 

 a prediction or at least as a sentimental reference upon 

 which future editors may look back. It would seem 

 to be inconsistent if we did not, in giving our readers 

 the first number of "Scientific Agriculture", keep to 

 the path of precedent. 



The field which this magazine will cover is quite 

 apparent from its title ; its purpose, too, is plainly to 

 gain recognition for agriculture as a scientific indus- 

 try; its usefulness will be decided and directed by 

 the individual readers. 



Our first editorial is an open hand extended to 

 greet all movements, all institutions, devoted to the 

 advancement of agriculture in Canada. We are all 

 Vvorking as a cohesive whole towards the same end and 

 seeking to obtain recognition and sympathy on the 

 part of the public for that work. It is a difficult task, 

 because we include in the term "public" many 

 people interested in industries remote from, even if 

 dependent upon, agriculture. Yet we can see a trend 

 in the right direction, and the purpose of this new 

 magazine is to foster and aid what has ah'eady been 

 undertaken. 



As the official organ of the Canadian Society of 

 Technical Agriculturists, our columns will naturally 

 give publicity to the work which that organization is 

 doing. The article^- published will, as far as possible, 

 treat with the educational, scientific and more pro- 

 gressive phases of agricultural effort. Certain pages 

 will perhaps appear to be of primary interest to mem- 

 bers of the C. S. T. A., but the general reader will find 

 much information in those pages that is of equal in- 

 terest to him. 



We particularly desire to co-operate with the present 

 existing agrieultiiral press, and to assist them in any 

 way possible. We do not intend to be competitive, nor 

 to trespa.ss severely upon the ground which they are 

 already covering. We feel, however, that there is a 

 place for a magazine which can represent technical 

 agriculture in this country and we feel certain that 

 r.o existing publication will dispute that claim, or 

 hesitate to welcome this venture. 



For these reasons we will gladly pei-mit the free use, 

 by any other journal, of the material published in 

 "Scientific Agriculture", provided, of course, that we 

 receive fair credit for it. And we hope, if there should 

 be matters upon which we can aid the agricultural 



press, or upon which we can perhaps be of mutual as- 

 sistance, that none will hesitate to suggest them. 



So our first editorial goes into history. It is writ- 

 ten, literally "under the desk lamp," in a spirit of 

 genuine sincerity. It must not be devoid of sentiment. 

 We have a keen personal interest in the Canadian 

 Society of Technical Agriculturists and we cannot per- 

 mit the first issue of its official organ to go to press, 

 without wishing it success ourselves, even if such a 

 wish may be attributed to selfishness aiid sentiment. 



THE WESTERN CANADIAN SOCIETY OF 

 AGRONOMY. 



On December 28th, 2!)th and 30th last, a very notable 

 meeting was held at the University of Alberta in Ed- 

 monton, when the Western Canadian Society of Agro- 

 nomy met for its first annual convention. The 

 place Mhicli that organization will fill in Canadian 

 agriculture is an important one ; its importance will 

 increase as its work becomes more known, and a~s its 

 scope widens. For a society that has been in esistance 

 only a little moi'e than one year, the programme carried 

 out at the recent meeting is one which reflects special 

 credit upon those M'ho planned it and upon those who, 

 as participants, were even more directly responsible 

 for its success. 



Comparatively few people realize or fully appreciate 

 the relationship between science and agriculture, in 

 spite of the fact that agricultural research and ex- 

 perimental work have been conducted in Canada for 

 many years and in practically every community. Valu- 

 able results have been obtained and these in turn have 

 given to practical agriculture an impetus sufficiently 

 strong to warrant, many times over, the expense in- 

 volved or the time taken in the obtaining of those re- 

 sults. And yet it is questionable whether many of the 

 Canadian people who are directly affected, know when 

 or how or by wliom the pioneer work has been done, 

 what its direct bearing is upon present agricultural 

 methods or what the experimental work now going on 

 may mean in the next decade. 



The Western Canadian Society of Agronomy will 

 help materially to relieve this lamentable condition. In 

 the western provinces where the influence of this new 

 body will be more dirctl.v ielt, the production of 

 cereals is increasing at a comparativel.v rapid rate. 

 Every setback which the grain growers meet, either 

 from droiith or rust or locusts or from whatever cau- 

 ses, means a national loss running into millions; sim- 



