Report of the Acting Director. 29 



however, that even with these new buildings when completed the relief 

 will be scarcely noticeable as the increase in students that will take place 

 before these buildings can be erected will alone necessitate this additional 

 space. 



I desire to emphasize the fact which Dean Bailey has often stated, that 

 we are just beginning the building of a College of Agriculture, not com- 

 pleting one. Agricultural interest in this State is not waning but is just 

 awakening after a long-continued period of quiescence and inactivity. 

 Those most closely in touch with the agricultural situation in the State 

 are surprised at the extent of this awakened interest. This increased 

 activity, which is a direct result of the economic conditions, is not likely 

 to grow less but in all " probability will greatly increase in the near 

 future. The " back to the farm " movement is a natural and necessary 

 reaction against too extensive commercialism and is a movement likely 

 to increase greatly in the next decade. 



Our people are just beginning to realize the advantage and value of 

 special agricultural education. The work which has been done by the 

 agricultural colleges and experiment stations up to the present time has 

 been largely of a pioneer nature. These institutions have met with severe 

 criticism and in many cases have had to endure the condemnation of 

 farmers themselves, the constituency for which they were working. All 

 this has passed. They have been severely tested and have not been found 

 wanting. They have overcome prejudice and have gained the confidence 

 of the farmers. Now farmers all over the country recognize the very 

 great value of the agricultural college work, and this confidence is being 

 markedly evidenced by the very rapid increase of students in attendance 

 at the various agricultural colleges. The real, genuine value of an agri- 

 cultural college training is thus just beginning to be recognized and the 

 number of young men and women seeking such training will undoubtedly 

 greatly increase in the near future. We cannot, therefore, expect a 

 falling ofif in the percentage of student increases in the College of Agri- 

 culture unless additional measures are taken to restrict the registration. 

 It is thus clear that the needs of the College of Agriculture should be 

 kept clearly before the people of the State and the institution built up 

 on a broad and sound basis to serve the State's agricultural interests. 



The beginning of the enlargement of the College facilities has been 

 made in the provision for the three buildings above mentioned. Other 

 buildings are just as greatly needed, and provision for the erection of 

 the most urgently needed ones should be made at the earliest possible 

 date. The following are particularly urgent : 



I. A central heating plant. The three new buildings which have been 

 authorized by the Legislature, namely, the poultry building, home eco- 



