16 International Agricultural Institute. 



for Diseases of Plants had been authorised to supply a 

 Report on relative organisations in various countries, includ- 

 ing information on the existing legislation, and on the State 

 scientific institutions dealing with plant diseases. An en- 

 deavour was made to enter into relation with as many as 

 were known, and an exchange of publications was proposed. 

 These preliminary inquiries were made conjointly by the Plant 

 Disease and Agricultural Intelligence Branches, because each 

 of them must necessarily obtain information from the same 

 sources, which, in this instance, included no less than 888 

 institutions and scientific publications. 



The inquiry regarding the organisations dealing with 

 diseases of plants was such an immense task that it could not 

 possibly be completed within a short period. It has, indeed, 

 only been possible to collect most useful material which will 

 be employed at an early date, and, we hope, ultimately 

 published in the form of a complete and accurate Report. ' 



Agricultural Intelligence Branch. 



The Agricultural Intelligence Branch was formed in the 

 month of August, 1909, and it has already done a considerable 

 amount of work. Apart from its collaboration with the Branch 

 for Plant Diseases, it has also commenced to collect the 

 material required for its special functions, and extended 

 bibliographical researches have been made as regards the 

 necessary books and periodical publications. Information 

 regarding theoretical and practical agriculture has also been 

 extracted from the principal articles contained in the publica- 

 tions and newspapers supplied by the Library. It was specially 

 for this purpose that the bibliographical extracts which have 

 been already mentioned were made. The Library indicates 

 certain articles, ancl the Intelligence Branch selects the most 

 interesting for its purpose, and tabulates the contents. The 

 index-cards are then systematically filed, and form a most 

 useful compilation of information for all kinds of inquiries 

 regarding scientific and technical agriculture. In a few 

 months, and with the help of only one official, more than 

 1,600 analyses have been prepared from the most important 

 agricultural articles which have been published recently. 



