S26 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



In Massachusetts short courses were unusually well attended, many 

 being turned away on account of lack of accommodations. 



A school of agriculture for boys, held at the Oklahoma State Fair 

 during the week of October 3, 1910, was attended by 150 boys. In 

 view of the success of the work the State board of agriculture has 

 authorized the college officials to plan for holding six of these schools 

 in different parts of the State during the coming year, to which both 

 boys and girls are to be admitted. 



It is quite evident from the increasing number of rural progress 

 conferences held during the year that the rural problem has ceased to 

 be an individual problem and is now a great sociological problem. 

 These conferences have dealt with such rural life matters as the rural 

 church, the grange, boys' and girls' clubs, the school as a social 

 center, rural social betterment, and sanitation. 



THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 



During 1911 about 2,000 public and private high schools in the 

 United States gave instruction in agriculture. The number of States 

 giving special aid to high schools maintaining approved courses in 

 agriculture increased from 6 to 11, and the number of schools thus 

 aided increased from 28 to about 250. Four new State agricultural 

 schools were opened in Arkansas and similar schools were provided 

 for, 2 in Colorado, and 1 each in Nebraska and Vermont. County 

 agricultural schools were provided for in North Carolina and North 

 Dakota. 



Of the 185 State normal schools, 104 offered courses in agriculture 

 during the year, and 18 others, courses in nature study or school 

 gardening. Several of the State normal schools conducted courses 

 for farmers and held farmers' institutes. The tendency in all the 

 secondary school work is to get in touch with the business and social 

 interests of the communities. 



RECENT PROGRESS BY STATES. 

 ALABAMA. 



The annual appropriation of $4,500 to each of the nine State 

 agricultural liigh schools was increased by act of the legislature in 

 1911 to $7,500, but owing to a shortage of funds in the State treasury 

 the additional funds were not available at the beginning of the new 

 year. By act of the same legislature a new school will be established 

 at Lineville. Agricultural and home economics are to be taught in 

 all gi'ades of this school, thus making it strictly industrial. 



ARKANSAS. 



The four State agricultural schools were opened to students and 

 have a total enrollment of about 670. In each case a main building 



