Januakt 17, J 008] 



SCIENCE 



115 



is not, however, the one noted by Coquillet 

 (I. c.) hut an entirely new species. 



Carleton E. Ball, 

 Agronomist in Sorghum Investigations 

 U. S. Department of Ageiculture, 

 Washington, D. C. 



TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE 



UNIVERSITIES 



The twelfth annual meeting of the National 

 Association of State Universities was held in 

 "Washington, D. C, on November 18 and 19, 

 1907. In this association upward of forty 

 universities are entitled to membership and 

 thirty-nine are active members; thirty-five 

 universities were represented at the meeting. 

 It was one of the most important meetings 

 of the association ever held in point of attend- 

 ance, bearing of the topics discussed, business 

 transacted, and investigations ordered. 



The president's address, " Some Problems 

 of American Universities," gave a compre- 

 hensive view of the field of higher education 

 in America and suggested many vital topics 

 for possible future investigation. The ques- 

 tion of a " National University " was again 

 to the front and a definite scheme was en- 

 dorsed for a non-degree-conferring institution 

 that should add to research opportunities sev- 

 eral unique practical functions. A commit- 

 tee of the association in conjunction with a 

 committee of the National Educational Asso- 

 ciation is charged with the duty of presenting 

 the plan to Congress. A committee met the 

 trustees of the Carnegie Foundation and fur- 

 ther discussed the claim of the state universi- 

 ties to the benefits of the retirement fund. 

 At this writing the question is still open. 

 Moreover, a committee on " standardizing " 

 American universities was appointed. This 

 question involves the vital and difficult prob- 

 lems of reorganization of higher education 

 and the action of the association may be of 

 far-reaching importance. 



Among the many other questions discussed 

 were " Development of Graduate Schools in 

 State Universities " and " Preparation of High 

 School Teachers." 



The Secretary of the Interior and the Com- 



missioner of Education attended part of the 

 meetings and evinced a helpful interest in the 

 problems before the association. A reception 

 was given by the president and faculty of 

 George Washington University. 



The relation of state universities to the edu- 

 cational interests of each state, the efiicieney 

 of the organization and its representative 

 character make the American Association of 

 State Universities a natural leader in discus- 

 sing some of the many problems of higher 

 education which are pressing for solution. 



James H. Baker, 

 President of the Association for 1907 

 Univeesitt of Colorado 



THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY 



The American Society of Agronomy was 

 organized in Chicago on December 31, 1907. 

 According to the constitution, the object of 

 the society shall be the increase and dissemina- 

 tion of knowledge concerning soils and crops 

 and the conditions affecting them. 



It is expected that the membership will be 

 composed largely of scientific workers in 

 agronomy. A strong feeling has been preva- 

 lent for some time that an opportunity is 

 greatly needed for college and station men to 

 meet and discuss methods of experimentation 

 and instruction in agronomy. 



Provision has been made for including as 

 charter members all who join the society before 

 July 1, 1908. Arrangements were also made 

 by which local sections may be established in 

 any part of the country on application of three 

 members of the society. The agricultural 

 colleges may thus have local organizations for 

 discussion of agronomic subjects. 



By resolution the society expressed its desire 

 to assist the Society for Promotion of Agri- 

 cultural Science in bringing about afiiliation 

 of all the scientific agricultural organizations. 



The ofiicers for the present year are as 

 follows : 



President — M. A. Carleton. 



First Vice-president — C. P. Bull. 



Second Vice-president — J. F. Duggar. 



Secretary — T. L. Lyon. 



Treasurer — E. G. Montgomery. 



