Brazil.--In 1909 Brazil organized, under the Federal government, a Bureau of Agricultural Inspection, which was empowered to make a special of agricultural conditions, collect and disseminate useful information among farmers and to promote crop introduction and production. This bureau is also, by law, re quired to compile agricultural statistics (till then completely lacking in Brazil), to make crop estimates and to inspect agricultural schcrils and experiment stations. The sum of $300,000 was also authorized to be used in the northern Brazilian states for the introduction of irriga tion and dry farming. A later law makes pro vision for opening up remote agricultural re gions by rail and public highways; and it also provides for irrigation plants, reservoirs, arti ficial wells, river dikes and drainage in certain coast lands, in order to make them suitable for agriculture. Both the Federal and States' legis latures were active in the promotion of laws favorable to the betterment of agriculture throughout Brazil from 1909 to 1918.
Canada.— Ontario, Quebec and the Mari time Provinces early had each its department for looking after agriculture; and the Dominion government has long had a very active and efficient Department of Agriculture. Most of the eastern provinces, notably Ontario, have had agricultural schools in active and efficient operation for years; and much good work has been done in spreading abroad scientific Methods in farming and in the organization of rural interests and the protection of the same. The central and western provinces have fol lowed the lead of the eastern and they threaten soon to surpass them in the extent and breadth of their legislative aids to agriculture. In 1909 Alberta provided for a Department of Agricul ture in the Provincial University at Strathcona; and, in connection with it, demonstration farm ing those sections of the province not coming within the immediate scope of the work of the college itself?) All the provinces fol lowed in the steps of the Dominion govern ment, providing special agricultural legislation. New Brunswick, by legislative act of 1913, es tablished a system of agricultural schools; and British Columbia arranged to make long-time loans to agricultural associations.
In 1909 President Roosevelt invited Can ada, Newfoundland and Mexico to a North American Conservation Conference at Wash ington. The invitation was accepted by the Dominion government and resulted in the creation by Parliament through the law of 19 May 1909 of a Commission of Conservation; and by an Order-in-Council (3 September) 32 members of the Commission were appointed, the ex officio members being the Ministers of the Interior, of Agriculture and of Mines, and the member of each provincial government of Canada charged with the administration of the natural resources of the provinces. At least one of the members of the Commission from each province must be a member of the fac ulty of a university in the province. The Com mission has to collect, assimilate and digest exact information and to make it of practical benefit for the country, and to advise the gov ernment upon questions relative to the admin istration and conservation of natural resources with a view to their effective and economic use. The Commission set for itself two broad aims: ethe taking of an inventory of Canada's natural resources, the molding of public opin ion and the advising of administrative authori ties with regard to the more intelligent man agement of the To this end the Com mission formed itself into seven committees dealing respectively with Lands, Forests, Wa ters and Water Powers, Minerals, Fisheries, Game and Fur-bearing Animals, Public Health and Press and Co-operating Associations; and field investigations were ordered to be under taken by these committees and a staff of tech nical experts respecting various natural re sources. The committee on lands set itself
to study and improve farming methods throughout the Dominion; and constructive measures were undertaken in 1912 to supple ment the survey work done up to that date. In each agricultural district ((illustration farms" were conducted at the government ex pense to demonstrate practically the benefits to be derived from scientific agriculture.
Latin Practically all the coun tries of Latin America had, in 1918, depart ments of agriculture, commissions or other bodies dedicated especially to the promotion, each of the agricultural interests of its own national territory; and all had one or more agricultural schools with experimental agricul tural stations established by legislative act and maintained by public funds, state or Federal, or both. Most of the Latin American countries extend both State and Federal aid and en couragement to agriculture and offer super vision and inspection covered by protective laws.
r Mexico.—In 1909 the Mexican Federal Agri cultural Commission, by direction of Congress, completely reorganized the agricultural interests of the republic and created a General Bureau of Agriculture with five departments; and pro vided for the establishment of national cham bers of agriculture in various states, of which 11 were opened that same year. All public land was also withdrawn from sale in order to divert it to special agricultural uses con templated by the Federal government. Since then the Carranza government has made pro vision for the subdivision of large estates in widely different parts of the country, into small holdings, with a view to encouraging the great body of Indians and mestizos composing the laboring and peon class of the republic, to be come independent homestead holders and agri culturists. These small tracts of land are offered at exceptionally low prices• and favorable conditions of payment. Provision has also been made for the further extension of agricultural teaching and more attention is being paid yearly to the broadening and making practical of the National Agricultural College, near Mexico City. An attempt has also been made to teach agriculture more extensively in the public schools. Uncultivated lands, of which there are still vast tracts in Mexico, have been taxed with a view to forcing their cultivation. Export duties have, in some cases, been put upon cattle to prevent their going out of the country in regions where, owing to the ravages of the revolution, there are not cattle enough. Legis lative enactments have also been made to en courage the settlement of agricultural colonies in various parts of the republic.
Jon/4 H. CORNYN, Staff of the Americana.