Agricultural Institute in Palestine Renders Report of 5 Years’ Work

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

The Agricultural Institute of the Zionist Organization in Palestine has just issued its first report covering a period of five years, between 1921 and 1926. The report, which is published in Hebrew and English, contains articles on the work of the Agricultural Experimental Station in the fields of biology, plant pathology, entomology, agricultural chemistry, agronomy, plant breeding and variety testing, rural economics, poultry, husbandry, horticulture and animal husbandry.

The Report opens with a letter addressed to Dr. Weizmann signed by Professor Otto Warburg and Mr. I. Wolcani, the heads of the Institute in which they declare:

“Five years is too short a period in research, even under normal circumstances, on which to base definite conclusions. The new Institute, moreover, was not fortunate during its first stage of development. Means as well as the natural conditions, for opening two such elementary branches as Horticulture and Animal Husbandry, were lacking. The existing Divisions lacked the chief thing–land. The Institute had to occupy a hired building and to work on rented land, which did not always satisfy the needs of precise investigation. Nevertheless in various subjects, certain foundations have been laid; in a number the lines have been drawn, in many the desired point of departure and the proper basis for further progress have been secured; diverse material has been secured and assembled. To some extent solutions have been found even for pressing practical problems and furnished by the Extension Division to the individual farmer.

“The Experimental Station hopes to initiate systematic work in a number of subjects with the inauguration of the new year on the land just allotted to it by the Jewish National Fund. Organized activity of the required scope can only commence when the Institute moves from the city into a permanent building in the country.”