PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 333 



True's paper were indorsed by formal vote of the convention, and the 

 advance publication of the paper was requested/ 



An address was delivered by L. H. Bailey, of New York, on The 

 Better Preparation of Men for College and Station AVork. The sub- 

 ject was discussed from the fourfold standpoint of the necessity of 

 (1) developing a spirit of scientific inquiry, (2) letting one's work 

 propagate itself, (3) developing an incentive of self-help in one's 

 constituency, and (4) insisting on a certain kind of preparation in the 

 college. The necessity for a broad educational foundation was em- 

 phasized with special force, and too early or narrow specialization 

 was strongly deprecated. The need of greater facilities than are now 

 available for the broad and thorough postgraduate training of 

 specialists was pointed out. The attitude of the investigator or in- 

 structor toward his work was considered " just as important as the 

 work itself," and it was urged that no jjerson can be considered pre- 

 pared for college or station work wdio does not possess the scientific 

 spirit. " We may well rest content that our work will propagate 

 itself if the work is well done and enthusiastically presented." The 

 best work for State or National constituency is that which inspires 

 that constituency to help itself. 



Prof. Bailey thought that only maturer and more experienced 

 men should be put in full charge of very responsible work and that 

 more time should be given to the training of persons for such work. 

 The e.quivalent of a good high-school training, a regular four-year 

 college course, and a thorough postgraduate training, leading first 

 to a master's degree and ultimately to a doctor's degi-ee, was con- 

 sidered necessary. '' In order that a postgraduate degree may mean 

 something, it is important not only that the postgraduate work itself 

 is good, but that only those persons be allowed to candidacy who 

 give evidence of being intelligently able to pursue the work with 

 satisfaction." 



The report of the committee on extension work, presented by K. L. 

 Butterfield, of Massachusetts, advocated the formation of a new 

 section of the association on extension work, a Federal appropriation 

 to the States and to the United States Department of Agriculture 

 for extension w^ork, the franking privilege for extension publica- 

 tions, and the organization of separate extension departments by 

 the land-grant colleges. At a later session of the convention the 

 recommendation with reference to amendment of the constitution 

 to provide for a section on extension work was taken up, and after 

 discussion was adopted by formal vote. This amendment provides 

 for " a section on extension work composed of directoi-s or super- 

 intendents of extension departments in the institutions in this 



1 U. S. Dept. Agr., Office Expt. Stas. Circ. 91. 



