No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 21 



after their establishment, our experiment stations were organized. 

 Then came a search for facts bearing upon agriculture, but for 

 years there was a dearth of scientists who could prosecute the work 

 effectively. 



It is only within the last ten years that we have made rapid prog- 

 ress in the creation of a science vitally affecting the art of agricul- 

 ture. The colleges and stations manned by scientists and equipped 

 with funds have made notable discoveries and progressive farmers 

 everywhere have learned to go to them for guidance. The day is 

 passing when a land owner can obtain good income from the soil 

 without the employment of much knowledge that has come from 

 college and station investigation. Land and animals give satisfac- 

 torv returns onlv in the degree that thev are handled in accordance 

 with the new science. A public awakening to this fact has created 

 an immense demand for men trained in scientific agriculture. They 

 are wanted in the management of estates, in the work of colleges 

 and stations, in the broad field covered by the national department 

 of agriculture, in the scientific work of state departments of agri- 

 culture and in secondary school instruction. Agricultural educa- 

 tion is sought to-day not only by men wishing to prepare for scien- 

 tific positions but also by a large number of young men who want 

 to increase their earning power upon their own farms. While sal- 

 aries connected with agricultural positions are relatively high, on ac- 

 count of the limited supply of scientists and the immense demand, 

 the opportunities open to the individual land owner are great when 

 he is prepared to use the most scientific methods. 



It is a pleasure to record the notable expansion of the work in 

 the School of Agriculture and Experiment Station of the Pennsyl 

 vania State College in the past year. The reorganization of this in- 

 stitution under Dean Thomas F. Hunt has been attended by the ad- 

 dition of twenty men to the faculty. The facilities for exjjerimenta- 

 tion have been enlarged by the purchase of more land and animals, 

 and research work of great value is under way. The completion of 

 the new agricultural buildings alfords choice facilities for instruc- 

 tion. I am informed that fifty freshmen have enrolled this year in 

 the regular four years' courses. 



While the Pennsylvania School of Agriculture is training scien- 

 tists, it offers its services to the men who want to become farmers. 

 A special course of two years is provided for men who do not have 

 the time for the school preparation for a regular four years' 

 course, and its purpose is to equip men for practical work in the 

 field, orchard and barn. No entrance examinations are required 

 and this two years' course is attracting many students. The win- 

 ter courses in agriculture covering twelve weeks, form an attractive 

 feature of the instruction offered. Ninety young men went to the 

 college last winter for three courses and the instruction was design- 

 ed to increase the earning power of each one. It was mv privilege 

 to meet this class last winter, and I was impressed with the intel- 

 ligence of these young men and their eagerness in the pursuit of 

 knowledge. 



The avowed policy of the State's School of Agriculture to serve 

 the land owners of the State is securing the loyal support of our 

 farmers, and I am glad that as the head of the State Department of 

 Agriculture, I can, with confidence, assure the young men of our 



