yS Department of Farm Mechanics 



the work of the Department of Farm ^Mechanics. Whether or not instruc- 

 tion in particular parts of the work should be given by a member of the 

 department involved would be a point to be settled by circumstances ex- 

 isting at the time. 



Highway Construction, a matter of far-reaching importance to the 

 rural districts, should be provided for in a separate course designed 

 especially to train men for the position of road supervisor. The aid of 

 the National Department of Agriculture could undoubtedly be secured in 

 this work in the way of supplying machinery and materials for demon- 

 stration and exhibition purposes. 



Winter-courses. In addition to the winter-courses in Farm ^Mechanics, 

 Dairy jMechanics and Poultry Mechanics now being offered, there should 

 be provided winter-courses in Farm Machinerj- and in Highway Con- 

 struction. 



Advanced work. Opportunity should be provided for advanced work 

 in fa) Farm Machinery along the lines of testing and improving machines 

 of existing types and also of designing wholly new machines, the need 

 for which might be brought out from time to time as the result of or in 

 connection with research by other departments, (b) Farm Motors, (c) 

 Field Engineering on drainage and irrigation problems, highway construc- 

 tion and maintenance, tests of fencing, etc. (d) Rural Architecture, 

 along any of the numerous lines that at once suggest themselves. 



Separate Courses for Specials. In all of the engineering work, the need 

 of separate courses for fully-prepared regular and for unprepared special 

 students is most pronounced. 



Research Work. 



No investigations of any kind were attempted during the past year. 

 During the coming year, however, there will be made a thorough investi- 

 gation of spray nozzles under all laboratory conditions which, it is hoped, 

 will prove of much practical value. 



A special appropriation of Sioo.oo will be devoted to the purchase or 

 construction of a traction dynamometer of the best possible design, which 

 will be absolutely essential in much of the research work that may be 

 taken up later. 



Extension Work. 



As the department is but recently organized and not yet fully estab- 

 lished, no attempt was made during the past year to undertake any 

 aggressive extension work, and since the department is practically un- 

 known to the farmers of the State few letters of inquiry on engineering 

 subjects were received. Of these few, however, a number contained re- 

 quests for advice as to the best make of implement of some kind for the 

 inquirer to purchase. 



