358 REPORT OF OFFICE OP EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



(3) A method for securing acquaintance on the part of the student 

 with the literature of the subject. 



(4) Provision for laboratory and practice exercises adapted to the 

 teaching and to the capacity of the student. 



(5) Form of periodic reports. 



(6) Method of conducting final examinations. 



(7) Proper administrative features for the system. 



(8) Provision for leadership of the classes. 



Formation of classes. — As a result of the investigation, it was con- 

 cluded first of all that the organization of the students into classes was 

 essential to the effective teaching of agriculture by the correspondence 

 method; second, that the size of the class should ordmarily not 

 exceed a maximum of about 15 persons, or a number that could be 

 instructed in laboratoiy or practice work by a single teacher; third, 

 that the members of the class should be over 17 years of age, should 

 have completed the equivalent of the eighth grade in the public 

 schools, and have had at least one year's experience in the practical 

 part of the study to be undertaken. 



In organizmg the class, at least in the earl}'' stages of the work, a 

 representative of the institution responsible for the course should 

 visit the community, list the names of those who wish to jom the class, 

 assist in securing proper rooms in which the class exercises can be 

 conducted, select the leader, and make out an order upon the coUege, 

 the experiment station, or the institute for the equipment needed in 

 conducting the course. 



Course of study. — The course of study advised is practically that 

 provided by this department for movable schools of agriculture modi- 

 fied to suit correspondence conditions. The principal changes in 

 adapting the courses from movable schools to correspondence work 

 consist in somewhat greater detail of explanation in the body of the 

 printed text; in the addition of a list of queries to follow each lecture; 

 and in a system of reportmg to the extension dejiartment of the 

 institution responsible for the work. Each lecture also with its cor- 

 responding practicum and list of queries is so printed that it may be 

 detached from the bulletin and given to the members of the class as it 

 is studied. This is mtended to obviate the necessity for taking notes 

 by the students and at the same time to supply them with references 

 to authorities as well as with specific dii-ections respectmg methods 

 and material to be used in their practicum work. 



The courses of study are upon a single topic and continue fi-om 

 one week to two months or even longer, according to the requirements 

 of the subject studied. The daily schedule proposed is: 



A. M. — Quiz upon the previous lesson. 



A. M. — Lecture along new lines during which no notes are taken by the class, but a 

 syllabus of the lecture together with reference to authorities giving more extended 

 information is to be supplied to each member at the close of the lecture. 



