530 NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
9. The food reserves in certain plants. 
Co-operation. — Co-operative relations have been established with the 
Committee on Agriculture of the National Research Council, the U. S. De- 
partment of Agriculture, the Botanical Division of the Carnegie Institution, 
research laboratories of universities, agricultural experiment stations, botanic 
gardens, the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry of the American Medical 
Association, the Cereal Conference, and the Association of Seedsmen. The 
purpose of this co-operation is the exchange of information in reference to 
problems under way, and in reference to pressing problems that have been 
encountered; and also the sharing of facilities for investigation. It should 
be said that information in reference to problems under way is not intended 
as a notice of preemption, the feeling being that several attacks upon a problem 
may bring speedier results. 
Additional Activities. — Efforts are being made to: 
1. Effect contact with manufacturers who may need information as to 
plant materials and products, and who may not know the most speedy way of 
obtaining it. 
2. Effect contact with farmers so that they may receive and apply the 
information and advice that is accumulating. 
3. Make some of the results commercially available, without specially 
favoring any commercial organization. Some of these results would ordinarily 
involve patents or trade secrets. 
John M. Coulter, Chairman. 
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 
The sixteenth meeting of the Executive Committee was held at the offices 
of the Council in New York City, April 4, 1917. Messrs. Chittenden, Dunn 
Pupin, and the Secretary were present. 
The Secretary announced the appointment of Mr. Lewis B. Stillwell to 
the Council. It was voted that Mr. Stillwell be appointed a member of the 
Engineering Committee. 
The Secretary also announced the appointment of Dr. Joseph S. x\mes 
and of Dr. Hollis Godfrey to the Council; the resignation of Dr. Hale as 
Chairman of the Committee on Research in Educational Institutions, and the 
acceptance by Dr. Chittenden of that chairmanship. 
Mr. Dunn reported a gift of five thousand dollars from Mr. Edward D. 
Adams to the Engineering Foundation. 
Dr. Chittenden presented a letter from certain members of the staff of the 
Sheffield Scientific School, bringing up several very practical questions on 
the metallurgy of brass, particularly for the use of the Army and Navy. 
After discussion, the letter was referred to the Secretary, to take the matter 
up with General Crozier, and possibly with others. 
