38 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



hiivo accoiiiplishod wonders. And when tlic [)uhlic and our Icj^islators 

 understand tli(^ siu'iiiticiinfc of tlif institute movement in its relation 

 to the mental and material \v»'ll-l)ein<;' of our people there will be no 

 diliiculty as i-ei^ards funds foi' the proper development of the institutes. 

 It was doubtless necessary to gather the data for the science of 

 a<:riculture throut*-!! th(> work of the I)(>partnient and the ex])eriment 

 stations, and to ti'ain tlie headers of aj^ricultural pro<,^ress in our aj^ri- 

 cuhuial colle<^('s, before it was possible to j)ut po})ular movements for 

 a<;ricultural education on an etiective basis. Hut the time is now ripe 

 for a great advance movement for the wide dissemination of agricul- 

 tural knowledge among the masses of oui- people. Workers must be 

 trained for this purpose, but the}' will come with the enlargement of 

 the demand for them. Wise provision for the luaintenance of these 

 workers b}' Congress and the State legislatures will liear a])undant 

 results in popular approval and the advancement of the national inter- 

 ests. Intelligent and active leadership in this cause will prove ver}- 

 effective at this juncture, and all who are in a position to render valu- 

 al)le service in this line have good reason to belie\'e that their eti'orts 

 will be crowned with early success. 



THE ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND STATIONS. 



The Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment 

 Stations held its seventeenth annual convention at Washington, D. C, 

 November 17-19, 1903. This meeting was more largely attended than 

 usual and was notable for its harmony and the expedition with which 

 business was transacted. Amendments to the constitution were adopted 

 which, it is believed, will make the association more effective as an 

 administrative body and permit the more thorough discussion of the 

 general questions relating to the organization and policy of the educa- 

 tional and research institutions comprising the membership of the 

 association. 



The work of the standing committees of this association is assuming 

 larger importance. In this way the matters in which the association 

 is especially interested are being much more eft'cctiveh' dealt with than 

 if their discussion were confined to the annual meetings. A brief 

 account of the Washington meeting is given on page 50. 



THE OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



The business of the Office of Experiment Stations has continued to 

 grow during the past 3'ear, and several new features have been espe- 

 cially developed. Work in relation to the farmers' institutes has been 

 put on a permanent basis, and systematic efl'orts are being made to 

 bring the Department into close relations with the State organizations 

 through which the institutes are managed. 



