330 KEl'OUT OK Ol'KU'K OK KXl'KUIMKNT STATIONS. 



WORK OF THE COLLEGES. 



The most notahlo fcaluiv of (lie prot^ress of the work of the agri- 

 ciihural (•(>llo<res (hiring the |)ast year has been the increase in theniim- 

 l)er and variety of (he eiit('r|>rises for extension work. The use of 

 special raih'oad trains for (Icinoiistrating to farmers tiie value of 

 careful selection of seed, as described in the report of this Ollice for 

 1!)()4, has extended to a number of States, lirief courses in the judg- 

 ing of live stock and grain have been given at a number of colleges. 

 Short courses and sunnner schools for teachers have been conducted 

 in more States than ever before, and in general the agricultural col- 

 leges are more actively seeking to promote popular agricultural 

 education both in the public schools and among adult farmers. At 

 Cornell University a course of lectures on agricultural journalism has 

 been provided in connection with the winter short courses. 



The International Livestock Exposition held annually at Chicago 

 has developed educational features of considerable imjoortance. This 

 exposition brings together the finished specimens of horses, cattle, 

 sheep, and certain classes of swine, representing many types and 

 breeds to compete for prizes offered by the exposition and the breed- 

 ers' associations. Such an aggregation has not been seen anywhere 

 else in the country, or perhaps in the world. The attendance is very 

 large, more than 000,000 admissions being recorded at the exposition 

 of 1905. Not only a large number of representative breeders and 

 stockmen, but also thousands of farmers from different parts of the 

 country go there to learn and to have their ideals of live stock devel- 

 oped. In 1905 17 States and the province of Ontario sent delegations, 

 of students from the agricultural colleges. There were about 100 

 each from Illinois, Iowa, and Nel)raska, and large numbers from other 

 colleges near by, like those of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and 

 Ohio; 30 from Colorado, 10 from Texas, several from Kansas, Mis- 

 souri, Louisiana, and 18 from Ontario. These students took part in 

 the competitive judging tests for horses, cattle, sheep, and swine. 

 There was also a corn-judging contest. The agricultural colleges and 

 experiment stations contriljuted a large number of animals to the 

 show, the official catalogue showing some 275 entries by them in 95 

 different classes. 



The grand championship of the fat-stock show was won by the 

 Iowa State College, with an Angus steer selected by Prof. C. F. Cur- 

 tiss about a year ago from a (;arload lot at the stock yards, and fed at 

 the college. The reserve champion was also from the college, a quite 

 remarkable fact. This is the fourth year that the grand champion- 

 ship has fallen upcm a college or station animal. In 1902 it went to 

 Iowa, in 190;> to Nebraska, and in 1904 to Minnesota. The showing 

 made by the colleges in the fat-stock classes has demonstrated their 



