146 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE 



April, 1921. 



comments and criticism, the sooner will we be able to 

 make desirable changes and improvements to the 

 magazine. 



Scores of favorable opinions have been received 

 from all manner of sources. The magazine is un- 

 doubtedlj' filling a new field and its entry into that 

 field has been welcomed. But there has been some cri- 

 ticism and that was to be expected. One correspoiul- 

 eut states that the magazine contains too much matter 

 that is neither technical nor scientific and suggests 

 that, as the official organ of the Canadian Society of 

 Technical Agriculturists, its contents should be strict- 

 ly limited to articles of that nature. 



There are two main reasons why such a policy can- 

 not be adopted now, if it is ever going to be adopted. 

 One reason is that all the members of the C. S. T. A. 

 are not actually engaged in scientific or research work. 

 They may be journalists, or farmers, or extension 

 workers, or men holding administrative positions. 

 These readers are just as much interested in agricul- 

 tural education, extension, history, etc., as they are in 

 articles emanating from the laboratory. "We are not 

 able to sa.y just what percentage of the members in 

 the C. S. T. A. are engaged in research work, but the 

 figure would certainly not be higher than 25 per cent. 

 The wishes of the other 75 per cent must be ijiet as 

 far as pos.sil)Ie since Sciantific Agriculture is equally 

 their official organ. 



The second reason is that tho.se controlling the 

 magazine must constantly bear in mind that its success 

 depends upon its circulation. A magazine M-ith a sub- 

 scription price of $2.00 per annum cannot succeed 

 with a small exclusive list of readers, and outside of 

 the members of the C.S.T.A., the number who Avould 

 be interested in a strictly scientific publication is very 

 limited. 



Our policy so far has been to accept and publish 

 any article dealing with agricultural research, if it was 

 suitable and that policy will continue. In other words 

 Scientific Agriculture offers an outlet for the results of 

 experimental and research work, provided that articles 

 giving that information are sent in for publication. 

 But the magazine in its present size and form cannot 

 be published monthly if it contains nothing else, be- 

 cause the amount of such material is not sufficient to 

 fill the space available. And it is very (l(iul)tful 

 whether a strictly technical publication could bo main- 

 tained without considerable financial assistance. 



There does not appear to be any logical argument 

 against the publication, in Scientific Agriculture, of 

 suitable articles dealing with other branches of the 

 subject than research and experimentation. On the 

 other hand, the arguments in favor of more diversified 

 articles are many. If there is any material appearing 

 in this magazine which more properly belongs to the 

 practical farm i^apers, the publishers or owners of 

 those papers would be the first to call our attention 

 to the fact. In our first issue we stated that we had 



no intention of trespassing upon their field and we 

 intend to stand by that statement. Not all of the 

 articles submitted to us have been published and so far 

 the agricultural press has given a very cordial recep- 

 tion to Scientific Agriculture. 



This is an infant publication, seeking to build up a 

 circulation and to make itself favorably known. "Wihen 

 it is soundly established it will be in a better position 

 to adopt such a policy as is indicated in the only critic- 

 ism so far received — a criticism which, if acted upon, 

 would unquestionably restrict circulation and present 

 manv difficulties. 



PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE. 



There can be no doubt that some of the decisions 

 reached at tbe Fifth General Assembly of the Inter- . 

 national Institute of Agriculture will, in the course of 

 time, give a )iotieeable impetus to the progress of the 

 agricultural industry. The reorganization work re- 

 commended at this Assembly which was held at Rome 

 in November last, indicates recognition on the part of 

 the Institute, of the value of obtaining sound counsel 

 in matters agricultural and of furnishing to all coun- 

 tries, through recognized national organizations, the 

 information and advice so obtained. This, in brief, is 

 the import of two resolutions quoted in the December 

 issue of the "International Review of Agricultural 

 Economics", now before us. 



The first resolution provides for "Consultative Com- 

 mittees"', formed by the Permanent Committee, with 

 the help of the Governments; the advise of the experts 

 and technicians on these committees is to be given to 

 each of the three branches of the Institute : General 

 Statistics, Agricultural Intelligence and Plant Dis- 

 eases, and Economic and Social Intelligence. The con- 

 sultative committees are to meet annually, but are to 

 give advice to the Permanent Committee by corres- 

 pondence throughout the year. 



The second resolution goes one important step fur- 

 ther and states "That the Institute may put itself in 

 relation, whenever it may deem it useful to do so, and 

 after having the approval of the Governments concei-n- 

 ed, with the' agricultural organizations and associa- 

 tions of the different countries, in order to be more 

 fully informed regarding all questions relating to the 

 protection of the interests common to. all the agricul- 

 tural classes and to the betterment of their condition." 



The efficient carrying out of these two decisions, 

 which have been chosen from a number of other equal- 

 ly important decisions and i-esolutions passed at this 

 Assembly, will do much to widen the knowledge of 

 agriculture and to furnish those who are directly in- 

 terested, with information they seek and need. It is 

 an indication, on the part of the International Institute 

 of Agriculture, of a desire to give M-holehearted and 

 unselfish .support to an important movement : the 

 public recognition of agriculture as a science. 



