PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 331 



high ability to pick out prize animals from market lots and to feetl 

 and finish them to perfection. 



The champion steer among the Shorthorns was from Purdue Uni- 

 versity, and the University of Nebraska won a prize on a yearling 

 steer. Ohio State University took a large number of prizes on its 

 swine, including the grand championship in several classes. Numer- 

 ous awards were also made to the Iowa College on its pigs, and to the 

 University of AVisconsin on its sheep and on finished carcasses, in 

 addition to those in the college and station specials. 



The increasing prominence of the agricultural colleges and experi- 

 ment stations in connection with this show is one of the strikinir illus- 

 trations of the change in attitude toward these institutions. Their 

 success in open competition with the world's masters has had great 

 influence in popularizing agricuhural education. Everywhere the 

 coUege and station men were greeted and referred to with respect. 

 P^armers in the audience were pointing them out to one another, and 

 in the judging ring they were much in evidence. These things have 

 demonstrated the practical character of the colleges and the high 

 degi-ee of confidence now reposed in their specialists. 



Of the list of judges at the show, nine were men connected with the 

 agricultural colleges and experiment stations, and they judged in 

 nearly 150 classes of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine, being in many 

 classes the only judges. The work was repeatedly commended for 

 the soundness and judgment displayed, and the reasons for their 

 decisions were uniformly intelligible and freely given. 



THE RURAL SCHOOLS. 



The progress of the conviction among leading educators in this 

 country that agriculture should be given a place in courses of study 

 in rural schools was shown at the forty-fourth annual convention of 

 the National Educational Association held at Asbury Park, N. J., in 

 July, 1905. Elementary agricultural instruction was one of the 

 prominent subjects of discussion at this convention, and it enjoyed 

 the distinction of special mention in the annual address of tiie presi- 

 dent of the association, delivered to thousands of teachers at the oi^en- 

 ing session. This was perhaps all the more significant as coming 

 from the superintendent of schools of New York City, Dr. "\Vm. II. 

 Maxwell. His statement was as follows: 



Apnin, t.iko tho toaoliinp: of aprimlturo. Wliilo our soil seoniod innxlinnstil)li« 

 in fertility :is in oxtont. tlio nowl of sucli tcadiin}; was not iVlt. Now. liowovcr. 

 wo an^ oidipMl to iiavo roconrso to Inmls lli.it prodnco only inulor irri^ration. 

 Tho rural schools have adtli'tl to onr clillioultics by teacliiiif: tlioir i>n|iils only 

 what so«>nu'(l most n«'c(>ssary fitr success when they shoiild ini»ve to the city. The 

 farms of New Kn^land are. in lar^'e measure, deserted or are i)assin;: into ali«>n 

 bauds. To retain tlie country hoy on the laud and to keep our soil from exbaus- 



U. Doc. 924. 59-1 I'J 



