PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 325 



ment for the iniprovomont of piihlic schools was held \>\ Dr. A. C. 

 True, who roacl a paper on the puhlic schools. He said that the col- 

 leges should study the proji^ra mines of (he public schools, come into 

 close touch with their school oflicers and teachers, provide courses of 

 study which will he attractive to school oflicers and teachers, and, by 

 summer schools or otherwise, seek to bring such persons into direct 

 contact with the system of education represented in these colleges. 

 Elementary and secondarv courses in ajjriculture and mechanic arts 

 in the public schools are required to direct students to the land-grant 

 colleges, and to prej)are (hem to enter their courses. 



Prof. John Hamilton discussed the relation of the land-grant col- 

 leges to the farmers and pointed out three great fields in which 

 these institutions should work, viz (1) college class room — four-year 

 courses, short courses, and post-graduate courses; (2) college exten- 

 sion work, including correspondence courses, farmers' institutes, mov- 

 able schools of agriculture, and practice farms, and (3) normal schools 

 of agriculture for training capable farmers to take part in the exten- 

 sion work of the colleges. 



One of the most important actions of this convention was the 

 reorganization of the standing committee in accordance with the 

 reconunendation of the executive conunittee. The association will 

 thus have four standing committees, viz (1) instruction in agri- 

 culture, (2) graduate study, (3) extension work, and (4) experiment 

 stati(jn organization and policy. These committees are to consist 

 of six members each, to be appointed by the retiring president, and 

 provision is made for a gradual rotation in the membership, so that 

 the terms of only two members will expire each year. Vacancies 

 occurring during the year are to be filled by the committees them- 

 selves. 



In accordance with the report of the committee on graduate 

 study the association decided to assume responsibility for the continu- 

 ance and management of the Graduate School of Agriculture. Ar- 

 rangements are being made to hold the second session of this school 

 at the University of Illinois in July, 1000. 



The association instructed its executive committee to take steps 

 to secure the establishment of a department of rural and agricultural 

 education in the National Educational Association. 



THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. 



The year 1005 marks the semicentennial of the founding of acri- 

 cultural colleges in this country. An act for the establishment of an 

 agricultural college was adojjted by the legislature of Michigan in 

 1855, and approved FebruaiT 1:^ of that year. This was in obedience 

 to a clause of the constitution of the State of Michigan, adopted in 



