208 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ing and drawing. A small group enrolled in these subjects, but the 

 members were very appreciative of the value of the instruction given to 

 them as prospective teachers. No doubt more would have enrolled in 

 this had our announcement in the bulletin been more specific as to the 

 nature of the work and the amount of credit to be received. I believe 

 courses in these lines can be made very attractive and helpful to teach- 

 ers if they are adapted to the needs of such students. 



Widespread interest prevails in our State at present in the economic 

 problems pertaining to agriculture, such as cooperation, marketing 

 and farm accounting. In order that the best thought in these lines 

 might be presented, the Department of Economics arranged to have 

 specialists present a series of lectures during the session. Accordingly 

 Dr. A. L. Cance of Amherst, Massachusetts, lectured for two weeks on 

 the topic of Cooperation; Dr. E. D. Jones, Ann Arbor, two weeks on 

 Marketing; Dean J. A. Bexell, Corvallis, Oregon, and Mr. R. V. Gunn 

 of Madison, Wisconsin, on Farm Accounting. A class of thirty-seven 

 enrolled for these lectures. More detailed account of this work will 

 appear in Dr. Hedrick's department report. 



Finally, I would direct attention to the conferences. Dean White 

 has held two conferences; one for teachers and for women of the State 

 interested in home economics, and another for demonstrations in house- 

 hold affairs. The satisfactory^ results from these conferences amply 

 justify their existence. I refer the reader to Dean White's report for 

 further comment. 



Mr. E. C. Lindermann, State Leader in Charge of Boys' and Girls' 

 Club Work for the State held a conference of persons interested in 

 club work. Sixty-four persons were in attendance from various parts 

 of the State. The object of the session was to give specific instruction 

 to individuals who desire to become leaders of local clubs. No activity 

 of the summer has equalled this gathering in enthusiasm and genuine 

 interest. This short course of instruction will be of incalculable value 

 . to the interests of the club work of the State. The College may well af- 

 ford to emphasize this project in the coming Summer Sessions. 



There remains for comment, the Rural Leaders Conference, similar 

 to that of last year, and designed to render assistance to ministers up- 

 on rural charges and any others interested. Forty persons enrolled for 

 this, thirty-three of whom were pastors in rural charges. The prob- 

 lem of assisting the rural pastor to adjust himself to the needs of his 

 parish is one of tremendous import and of immeasureable difficulty, the 

 importance of w^hich is as yet very slightly appreciated. The instruc- 

 tion given in an agricultural college, and the environment of such 

 an institution ought to contribute to this end. Through the aid of our 

 faculty, supplemented by the addresses of Dr. Warren H. Wilson of 

 New York City, Dean Shailer Mathews of the University of Chicago, 

 and Prof. T. J. Meek of James Millikin University, Decatur, 111., a 

 splendid program was presented. The most potent tribute to this effort 

 is the fact that representatives of four denominations have asked the 

 College to continue this activity, and have effected an organization 

 among themselves to relieve the College of responsibility as well as to 

 secure larger attendance of their members. 



The problems of the conferences are among the most taxing upon 



