Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-07
u. S. SCIENTISTS co
TO SOVIET MEETING
Soils Congress Draws Agri-
cultural Experts From
Many Countries.

approximately 80 American scientists
will attend the Third international Soils
Congress at Leningrad and Moscow this
month-the first international gathering
in Soviet Russia since the war.
The Americans are soil experts from
State universities and experiment sta
tions. Most of them already are en-
route to Russia, where the Soviet govern
ment has planned an elaborate program
for their entertainment. The delegation,
it was pointed out at the Department of
Agriculture today, is entirely unof1cial
so far as the Federal Government Is
concerned and most Of the members are
paying their own expenses, although
some from the State universities are ex-
pected to carry credentials from their
institutions
State universities represented are
those of Missouri, Arizona, MaSSachu-
sets, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Ken
lucky wisconsin, Utah, New Jersey,
Louisiana, Connecticut, Nebraska, Ore
gon, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois,
Wyoming and California.
Visas Ready in Europe.
Soviet visas enabling the delegates to
enter Russia have not been secured
through the State Department, but
through American officials of the Con-
gress who cahled list of those intend
ing to go to Moscow. Passports will
await them in various European cap
itals having diplomatic relations with
the Soviet government. The men from
experiment stations connected with the
Department Of Agriculture are officially
ION leave"
When the first International Soils
Conference met In Rome six years ago
1t was agreed that meetings would be
held every three years in the country
of the president Of the congress. At
the meeting in Washington three years
ago, DR.. K. D. Glinka, considered one
of the foremost living soil chemists,
was elected president, so this years
meeting went automatically to Moscow.
Russia sent an official delegation TO
Washington with large exhibit.
The congress will convene on July 20
at Leningrad After six days it will
move to Moscow, where there will be
another week of scientific sessions. The
primary object will be to secure inter-
national agreements on methods of soil
analysis and classifications of soils.
After the scientific meetings the Rus
sion government will provide transpor-
tation for trip of approximately 1000
miles from Moscow to the Black Sea
and return, with numerous side trips, to
illustrate various types of soil.
Elaborate Trip Planned.
Local committees have been appointed
in Moscow, Leningrad, Kharkov, Kiev
Tiflis. Baku. Erivan, VoronaZh and
Saratov to attend to the entertainment
81 %kaa al A. loka k11v 11NN
trated booklet containing the program
of the congress and the entertainment
program has just been received in
Washington. The scientists are ex-
pected to bring back trustworthy reports
of the actual progress of science in the
new Russia which is financed by the
government and for which exceptional
claims have been made.
In Leningrad, the sessions will center
around the Academy of Sciences, where.
according to the handbook, a special
commission Is established to study the
productive capacity of the Russian
soil. THE major part of the palaces,
of which there are many in Leningrad
and its suburbs" says the handbook,
have been turned into scientific
museums. The famous Winter palace.
the former residence of the cars, has
been turned into an art historical
museum. In the palace are maintained
the rooms of the cars with all their
equipment, including the rooms of the
last car. The furnishings of his room
bear distinctly the stamp of q back
ward nobility mode of life"
Leningrad, Moscow. Kharkov and Don
have their former palaces set aside for
scientists where visiting scholars are
lodged. That in Leningrad is the
former palace of the grand duke.
Just before the opening of the con-
gress a special seven-day excursion has
been arranged North from Leningrad
across the Arctic Circle to study the
peculiar soils Of the tundras and the
work of the Polar Biological Station
where experiments are in progress
aimed to make agriculture profitable
in Arctic regions.
When they shift to Moscow, the
scientists are assured, they will find
there SO scientific institutions and 81
universities, including an institute of
toys" where special research work is
conducted on the proper sort of play
things for growing children. Here side
trips will be taken to study the soils in
the Lenin Mountains. Then the dele
gates will leave for the Great Plains
region, the semi-desertS Of the ancient
Caspian Basin, and the mountains of
the Caucasus.
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