SUMMER SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE 331 



Since many persons can bear witness to the holding of meetings 

 for the dispensing of bird justice and mutual aid, and it has been 

 demonstrated in innumerable instances that these little creatures 

 are possessed of an intelligence far beyond the promptings of mere 

 instinct, — a reasoning power that leads them to take concerted 

 action against a common foe, migrate in bodies, and assemble for 

 various other purposes, — is it unreasonable to assume that they 

 may at times meet together simply for recreation and pleasure ? 



Photography may be able to adduce proof that will convince us 

 that these little feathered creatures are really capable of entertain- 

 ing purely aesthetic emotions ; and this record of the bird's court of 

 song may give evidence of a spirit entirely apart from those natural 

 instincts guiding them in the pursuit of material existence. 



The 1915 Summer School of Agriculture and Country 

 Life at the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College 



E. H. Forbush 



Despite the European War, the expositions on the coast and the 

 fact that there were scarce two consecutive days of fair weather 

 during the month of July, the four weeks Summer School of Agri- 

 culture and Country Life at the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- 

 lege was larger and in general more successful than for some years 

 past. The registration for the school itself totalled 157 and with 

 those who entered for the special group of courses during the last 

 two weeks it reached 175. It is interesting to note the occupations 

 of the students, seventy-eight were teachers, seventeen students 

 ten ministers, nine homemakers, seven farmers, four in business, 

 three secretaries, two nurses, thirteen miscellaneous and thirty-two 

 unknown. In view of the fact that the summer school was 

 primarily intended for school teachers and has gradually been 

 broadened to meet the needs of others, the heavy registration of 

 rural teachers denoted that it is still serving its original purpose. 



The general plan of the summer school is to have the regular 

 classes, (four periods) during each forenoon, except Saturday, to 

 have class discussions or field trips Monday and Friday afternoons, 

 laboratory work and organized recreation Tuesday and Thursday 

 afternoons, an afternoon excursion on Wednesday and an all-day 

 excursion on Saturday. Tuesday and Friday evenings of each 

 week are devoted to social activities for students and faculty. The 



