24 Report of the President. 



XVIII. Department of Extension Teaching. 



(a) The course given by this department has for its aim the training 

 of students in the pubHc discussion of the problems of agriculture. 

 Students are familiarized with parliamentary procedure, and by means 

 of lectures, individual training and instruction, and practice in the class- 

 room, learn to present in writing and in public speech their thoughts and 

 ideas about those problems of the farmer and the relation of agriculture 

 to the welfare of State and nation in which they have a vital interest. 

 New and added impetus has been given the work through the establish- 

 ment by Mr. Eastman of an annual prize of $ioo for the winner of the 

 public speaking stage of the College. 



(c) The extension activities of this department in conjunction with 

 other departments bring the College and its officers into contact with 

 vast numbers of farmers throughout the State, and are an essential and 

 very important part of the work of the College. The report of the 

 department shows that through Farmers' Week, through the running of 

 farm trains in cooperation with railroads, through extension lectures 

 by members of all departments, exhibits at fairs, cooperative experi- 

 ments, and field demonstrations, through the lectures and personal con- 

 ferences of the special field agent, and through the distribution from the 

 mailing office of circulars, bulletins, and the like, the College has carried 

 new ideas, instruction, and the results of its investigations directly to 

 nearly 200,000 individuals and indirectly to countless other thousands 

 through all the length and breadth of this State and country. 



XIX. Department of Rural School Education. 



(c) The extension work of this department, which aims to keep the 

 most advanced ideas relating to agriculture before the teachers of 

 'rural schools throughout the State, is now as well organized as the 

 available funds will permit. The Cornell Rural School Leaflet, pub- 

 lished each month during the College year, places in the hands of over 

 70.000 teachers and pupils materials for class-room work in agriculture, 

 prepared by experts in scientific farming, and presented by one who 

 knows the public schools of New York State and who is assisted by interest 

 and help from the State Education Department and from school com- 

 missioners, teachers, and pupils all over the State. Here is the founda- 

 tion and the beginning of a great work for the development of agricul- 

 tural education in the secondary and elementary schools of the State, but 

 more funds are needed to strengthen its efficiency and enlarge its scope. 



