PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 237 



Dr. A. C. True gave a short history of the graduate school and 

 pointed out the great development of agricultural education and 

 research in this country since the first session of the school was held 

 four years ago. The following statements are taken from his address: 



THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE— PAST AND PRESENT. 



The Graduate School of Agriculture originated in the mind of Prof. 

 Thomas F. Hunt, then dean of the college of agriculture of the Ohio 

 State Universit}^. His plan for such a school received the cordial 

 approval of the president of the universit}^ Dr. W. O. Thompson, 

 and on the recommendation of these two men the board of trustees 

 of the university took action in April, 1900, in favor of the establish- 

 ment of the school and generously made provision for its financial 

 support. The plan for this school was presented by the president of 

 the university to the Association of American Agricultural Colleges 

 and Experiment Stations at its annual convention in November, 1900, 

 when the matter was referred to its executive committee. At the 

 convention of 1901 this committee reported favorabl}^ on the plan 

 and recommended that if the success of the session seemed to justify 

 the continuance of the school, it be made a cooperative enterprise 

 under the control of the association. This action of the executive 

 committee was indorsed by the association. The Secretary of Agri- 

 culture, Hon. James Wilson, also expressed his cordial approval of 

 the movement for the establishment of this school, and, acting on his 

 advice, the Director of the Office of Experiment Stations consented 

 to act as dean, and other officers of the Department became mem- 

 bers of its faculty. 



The first session of the school was held during the month of July, 

 1902, in Townshend Hall, the substantial and well-equipped agricul- 

 tural building of the Ohio State University, where were illustrated 

 the most improved apparatus for instruction in soil physics, dairying, 

 and other agricultural subjects. Besides the live stock of the uni- 

 versitv farm, leading; breeders of Ohio furnished choice animals for 

 the stock-judging exercises. 



Courses were offered in agronomy, zootechny, dairying, and breed- 

 ing of plants and animals. General problems of agricultural science 

 and pedagogy were discussed at the inaugural exercises and at Sat- 

 urday morning conferences. Among the topics thus treated were the 

 history of agricultural education and research in the United States, 

 the organization of agricultural education in colleges, secondary 

 schools, nature-study courses, correspondence courses, farmers' insti- 

 tutes, and various forms of university extension, what constitutes a 

 science of agriculture, methods and value of cooperative experiments. 

 Through social assemblies, visits to typical Ohio farms, and much 



