INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE. 



Report by Senator Count Faina, President of the 



Institute, 



{This Report was read at a Meeting of the General Assembly hi December, 1909.) 



Before considering the subjects mentioned in the Agenda, 

 it is well that you should know what has been our task 

 during the past year, how we have worked towards its 

 completion, the difficulties we have met, and the results 

 we have obtained. My present duty is the more pleasant 

 because I am absolutely convinced that every possible effort 

 has been made to realise the hopes conceived by the founders 

 of the Institute, and on the part of the adhering Govern- 

 ments. I beg you to be patient and indulgent, because my 

 subject does not lend itself to an eloquent discourse, even 

 if I were an orator. 



Provision of a Building for the Institute. 



What was the position of the Institute when the first 

 General Assembly adjourned 1 and relegated to the Per- 

 manent Committee the completion of the task which was 

 necessary before the Institute could commence its regular 

 work? The building only and a part of the Statutes were 

 in existence. Erected in the short space of fifteen months, 

 under the supervision of the Royal Italian Commission, 

 the building is due to the munificence of the august 

 Founder of the Institute. In the Budget prepared by MM. 

 Vassiliere and Lesage in 1905, the sum of ^25,000 had been 

 inserted as "rent or annual payment towards a sinking fund." 

 Having to provide a building, the Royal Italian Commission 

 considered that it would not be suitable or advisable to take 

 one on lease, especially as it might be difficult to furnish it 



1 See " Further Papers and Correspondence relating to the International 

 Agricultural Institute " [Cd. 4727]. Price, g\d. 



