PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 603 



engineering building, sind (1. X. Knapp, an engineer connected with 

 the U. S. Geological Survey, has Ikm'u appointed assistant professor 

 of agricultural engiii(>ering. 



In the announcoincnt of courses of instruction in the College of 

 Agriculture of Cornell Cnivcrsity for llHi.'-J—t, as reorganized under 

 the directorship of Prof. L. II. Bailev, farm mechanics and engineer- 

 ing are distinctly recognized, and two courses are oflfered, as follows: 



Fitnn mfcltanicx and mghieerinrj. — Lt'ctnre.s and recitations upon selecting, planning, 

 and equipping farms, Imilding roads, liiini vehicles and machinery, power, water, and 

 drainage. Practice in leveling and laying drains, dynamometer, aii<l nther tests of 

 wagons and farm implements. Special instruction will be given on rural roads, and 

 it is fxpccti'd that a piece of actual road will he constructed each year. 



Farm hiiihUngs. — Study atiil designing of farm buildings. Open to seniors and to 

 others by special iiciniissiuu. 



In order to aid the movement for the more complete recognition of 

 rural engineering in our agi'icultural colleges and experiment stations 

 and the United States Department of Agricultiir(>, the Association 

 of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations has 

 a])pointed a stan<ling connnittee on rural engineering, which sub- 

 mitted the following report at the convention of the association held 

 in Washington, D. C. November 17-19, 1903: 



At the la.st meeting of tiie As.sociatiou of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment 

 Stations the following resolution was adopted: 



" Whereas, The agriciiltuial colleges and experiment stations, as well as the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, are broadening their work relating to irrigation 

 and farm mai'hiuery and other lines of agricultural engineering, and there is press- 

 ing need of the more deliuite formation of plans for this work: Therefore be it 



"lifnulved, That this association make provision for the appointment of a standing 

 committee on agricultural engineering to consist of five members, anil that it be made 

 the duty of this connnittee to cooperate with the Department of Agriculture in pro- 

 moting education and research along the different lines of agricultural engineering." 



Your connnittee, appointed in pursuance of this resolution, begs leave to submit 

 the following ])rogress report: 



Rural engineering, as defined in Circular 4") of the Office of Experiment Stations, 

 is " the science and art of laying out farms, designing and constructing farm build- 

 ings and works, and making an<l using farm imjdements and machinery." 



A careful examination of existing conditions in the United States leads to a belief 

 that there should be a strengthening of the courses of instruction in these subjects in 

 ourcolleges, ami the inauguration of c<tmprehensive investigations ;uid research work 

 to ascertain the best practice in this and other lands and ]>rovide ui>-to-date informa- 

 tion for instruction in our instituti<Mis of learning. This iseipially true, whether the 

 opportunities for students or the nee<ls of tlu- American farmers are considered. The 

 field of praclicid usefulness for the one and the need of the other are alike extensive. 

 In siipjiort of these conclusions we submit the following facts: 



The comjiaratively large areas of American farms makes the laying out and 

 arrangement of the <hfferent iieMs a matter of esi)ecial importance to our farmers. 

 In order to maintain the fertility of the soil, rotation of crops nmst be practiced. 

 To do this, lields should have such areas and such nund)er as will make a reyidar 

 system of rotation feasible. This gives an opportunity f(jr the exercise of skill and 

 intelligence, and, in connection with the buililing of roa<ls leading from farm build- 



