22 



International Agricultural Institute. 



Therein do agriculturists fail. Concerning certain pro- 

 ducts, many know little or nothing of the condition of the 

 crops, of the prospects, of the quantity and quality of the 

 harvest, or of the prices which are asked and given in the 

 markets of the world. 



Moreover, a rapid development of technical agriculture in 

 any particular country, or new inventions, may very quickly 

 and adversely affect the agriculture of another country. 

 And, since progress does not extend in parallel lines through- 

 out the world, certain countries remain behind to a marked 

 degree. 



It is in order to remedy such drawbacks which breed dis- 

 content, and occasionally even economic crises, that organised 

 agricultural " Intelligence Departments " have been formed 

 in most countries, to supply information to agriculturists 

 regarding the state of the markets and the progress of their 

 competitors. 



The necessity for international action has been recognised 

 as regards protection against diseases which affect mankind, 

 and the International Institute of Hygiene at Paris was 

 founded by several Governments in order to investigate those 

 diseases and to discover means of resistance. Similarly 

 would great benefits accrue if some international agreement 

 could be made with reference to diseases which affect animals 

 and plants. Agricultural products, unfortunately, carry with 

 them the germs of plant diseases. Insects which are harm- 

 less in their own habitat sometimes become serious pests in 

 other countries to which they are exported by chance. The 

 danger is therefore universal, and agriculture would reap 

 good results by means of international co-operation on the 

 subject. 



Finally, as regards economic and social institutions, would 

 not nations benefit, as is indeed the case with individuals, by 

 the existence of comparative studies of various institutions 

 which, among men, regulate mutual relations, whether they 

 be economic or social ? 



There can therefore be no question as to the existence of 

 agricultural interests which are international. It is also in- 

 disputable that those interests may accord with, or be in 



