PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 249 



A meeting of dairy instructors and investigators July 17-19 resulted 

 in the formation of a national organization, as mentioned above. At 

 this meeting a regular programme was presented, covering the whole 

 range of dairy teaching and experimentation. The papers and dis- 

 cussion brought out the urgent need of scientific investigation to solve 

 man}^ practical problems in dairying and in the feeding of dairy cattle. 

 Emphasis was placed on the demand for more and better trained men 

 in dairy work, and on raising the standard of dairy instruction. Prof. 

 R. A. Pearson, of Cornell University, was elected president of the 

 association; C. B. Lane, of the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture, secretary-treasurer, and committees were appointed upon various 

 topics. 



Informal meetings were held several evenings at which questions 

 relating to various phases of agricultural education were discussed. 

 Among these were the methods of teaching agronomy, the organiza- 

 tion of secondary and elementary courses in agriculture, and the 

 science of agriculture as a basis for the organization of a system of 

 agricultural education. These meetings were to some extent a con- 

 tinuation of the daily sessions and seminars. This atmosphere of 

 discussion of matters of fundamental importance in agricultural 

 education and research was probably one of the most beneficial fea- 

 tures of the school. 



On Saturday, July 14, about 70 members of the school visited the 

 estate of the Funk Brothers, near Bloomington, 111., comprising about 

 25,000 acres, where crop and animal production on a large scale was 

 seen under the best conditions, as well as considerable experimental 

 work in breeding oats and corn. 



Wlien news came of the death of Hon. H. C. Adams, the school 

 adopted resolutions expressing their appreciation of the services ren- 

 dered to the cause of agricultural education and research by Mr. 

 Adams, in securing the passage of the ''act which will forever bear his 

 name and associate him in the minds of our people with Senator Mor- 

 rill, of Vermont, and Representative Hatch, of Missouri, tlirough 

 whose wise statesmanship our agricultural colleges and experiment 

 stations have been established and maintained." 



The interest in the work of the school was well sustained throughout 

 the session. There was considerable going and coming of students, a 

 few even registering during the last week. Even those who stayed 

 only a few days seemed to feel that they had received inspiration and 

 information which made their coming to the school worth while. The 

 students were unanimous in their expressions of the benefits and the 

 broadening influence of the school, and in the general hope that 

 another session might be held two j^ears hence. 



