In the near future, it is inevitable that the scope of the work of the Department of Agriculture, in re-spect especially to climatology, will be greatly enlarged. Climatology, in fact, is only one branch of the all comprehensive science, which passing events indicate is to spring from the co-ordination of many kindred branches, now studied piecemeal in the Department of Agriculture, and which will have for its purpose the better knowledge of our country's biological possibilities. Not long since, a beginning - a preliminary test - was made by Dr. Merriam, chief of the Division of Mammalogy and Ornithology, under instructions from the honorable Secretary. This gentleman was sent to the San Francisco mountains, in Arizona, the highest detached group within our borders, and the one for this reason which furnished the best opportunity for the comprehensive study of the effect of climate upon animal and vegetable life. Surrounding the apex of the parent peak - an extinct volcano - he found a region, the fauna and flora of which were similar to those of Labrador and other high Arctic and Antarctic latitudes ; while below, and within the limits of a single glance, the climate passed through all the varying phases of the temperate and semi-tropical regions.

To a trained observer like him these presented a thousand curious and suggestive aspects, which, by comparison with each other, led to the confirmation of certain theories and the refutation of others. How far distant may the time be, when with a given latitude or altitude, a given mean temperature and rainfall, the Department may say with an approach of certainity, of fruits and flowers, of vegetables, fibres, cereals, grasses, trees and animals, "This variety will, and this other will not thrive with you?"

The Department does this to an extent already, but its utterances too often lack the element of authoritative knowledge, based upon specific experimentation. The nucleus for the organization is ready in the Department, consisting of the divisions of Botany, Entomology, Ornithology and Mammalogy, Pomology, Horticulture and the Seed Division. It is proposed to add the Weather Bureau, and from present appearances it will probably be placed under the jurisdiction of the Department. Moreover, the experiment stations throughout the country are acting in more or less harmony with, and report to the Department; and the plan of co-ordinating the work of all these divisions and bureaus to a single central purpose has the platform for discussion and adoption ; the plan of determining as far as possible the relations of climatology to life in all its manifestations.

It is proposed that all the agents of the Department shall investigate not merely with reference to their own specific work in the Department, but shall have the eye of observation ever open and the mind ever ready to see and to note these relations. In this study, every available source of information will be sought to be used. The Department is in intimate correspondence with a close scientific student in Queensland, Australia, who will report the climatic characteristics of that country, and will furnish the grasses and forage plants that apparently will be of service to the United States. Arrangements are being made for the collection of the flora of Alaska, and the Department has under consideration the sending of an expedition, sometime in the near future, that shall traverse Russia from its western to its eastern border. It has an agent collecting botanical specimens in South America. Agents of the Department are traversing this country from Mexico to our northern border, collecting the specimens that shall lead to a more thorough knowledge of the distribution of plants, mammals and birds.

Agents of the Pomological Division last summer made a trip, beginning at Texas, thence through New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington to the northern border, and thence home, generally studying the habits and making collections of the wild grape. The head of the Division of Forestry made a similar trip, beginning in Colorado and thence west to the state of Washington, and thence to California and home by way of Arizona and New Mexico, for the purpose of studying the distribution of plants. The chief of the Botanical Division took a similar trip into western Kansas and through the same territories for the purpose of studying the character and distribution of the native forage plants. At present the facts thus gathered, except for their specific work, are not coordinated or brought together as a principle of law ; but the purpose of the Department is to so organize the whole work as to enable it, with more certainty, to inform the world of the possibilities of the several localities in the country and the plants and animals that are adapted to them.

If this plan shall commend itself to the practical and scientific men of the country, it is hoped that it will receive such encouragement as shall inspire the Department to go on, and that abundant means will be given to consummate it. It is hoped that these facts thus accumulated, may in time be reduced and brought into line, and that there shall come to the front some man who, with the spirit of prophesy, shall define the law which governs the relations of climate to life. We absolutely need an exhaustive work on the climatology of the United States.

Edwin Willits.