OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 739 



same worker has tried the publication of his work in an American 

 technical journal, but finds it does not reach (he proper audience.. 

 We are thus obliged to confess to a humiliating lack of a proper 

 American medium for the presentation of such material to the world, 

 though we are maintaining the most comprehensive system of insti- 

 tutions for agricultural research. 



There is now very active interest among station workers in this 

 matter of a suitable organ for the publication of their work. The 

 material for publication is already accumulating, and the wide inter- 

 est at present felt in agriculture makes the collection and preservation 

 of these papers a matter of the utmost importance at this juncture. 



RELATIONS WITH INSTITUTIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



During the past year there has been a very rapid development of 

 public interest in the broader phases of agricultural education. It is 

 now clearly seen that the right solution of the problems of country 

 life and agricultural production will depend very largely on an 

 effective system of practical education which will reach the masses 

 of men, women, and children on the farms. The complexity of the 

 problems involved in organizing proper agencies for such education 

 and the inmiensity of the task involved in reaching the millions of 

 our rural population are as yet only dimly realized. The relations 

 of the national and state departments of agriculture, the agricultural 

 colleges, schools and experiment stations, and public and private 

 schools to this movement are not yet well defined. Special problems 

 are constantly arising in different regions. Attempts are being made 

 in many places to organize this work without takiug into account the 

 results 01 experience elsewhere. State and local officials and organi- 

 zations, voters, and men and women interested in promoting the gen- 

 eral welfare of our agricultural communities, are seeking light on 

 the questions involved in the organization of agricultural education. 

 This Office is endeavoring to study these problems in a broad way, to 

 collect information from many sources, and to spread abroad through- 

 out the country definite information which may be of use to those 

 who are engaged in the work of diffusing practical education in agri- 

 culture in the several States. A part of this work can be done through 

 publications, but much of it requires personal touch Avith the com- 

 munities and officers seeking our aid. Our work under present con- 

 ditions is entirely inadequate to meet the situation. Confining our 

 efforts to giving aid to the state organizations and officers charged 

 with the immediate responsibility for promoting this movement, we 

 need a larger and more permanent force than can be maintained with 

 the funds now at our disposal. Our agents for this service should be 

 men and women with broad educational and practical training, and 

 with marked ability to present the subject clearly and effectively in 

 publications, addresses, and conferences. Much of their success will 

 depend on their continuance in our service after their ability for 

 broad leadership in this enterprise has been demonstrated. The 

 amount of money required to secure and maintain the needed force 

 for such service as is appropriate for the Department of Agriculture 

 to perforin in promoting agricultural education throughout the 

 United States is relatively very small. Tt is hoped, therefore, that a 

 way will be found to provide such additional funds as will enable 



