Report of the President. xxiii 



riiary, there was organized a Housekeepers' Conference with the 

 object of bringing the farm women into as close touch with the 

 work of the college, pertaining to the home, as the farmer is 

 brought into touch with the work in the college pertaining to agri- 

 cultural subjects. It is planned to make this conference a special 

 field for experimental work in home economics and to give the 

 farmers' wives an opportunity for exchange of practical in- 

 formation. 



XIX. Extension Office. 



(a) The teaching work of this department consists in lectures 

 and discussions on problems of University extension in agri- 

 culture. Practice is given also in oral and written presentation of 

 agricultural topics, with criticism and individual appointments on 

 the technique of public speaking. The courses are designed to 

 acquaint students with parliamentary practice, to encourage interest 

 in public afifairs, and to train for effective self expression in public. 

 A limited number of juniors and seniors are sent out into the State 

 to address meetings. Special mention and appreciation should here 

 be given to the prize founded by Mr. A. R. Eastman, of Waterville, 

 N. Y., amounting to $ioo annually for an agricultural public speak- 

 ing stage. This prize is to be given for the first time this coming 

 year. 



(c) It is the aim of this office to aid all departments in the 

 college in arranging for lectures, throughout the State. Lectures 

 are given at fairs, before societies and institutes, on farm trains 

 and during Farmers' Week. Two " farm specials " were run 

 during the year, one in co-operation with the Erie and the other 

 with the New York Central railroad. In this way direct appeal 

 was made to some 25,000 persons. The second Annual Farmers' 

 Week, held in February, brought an attendance of 2,000 farmers 

 to Ithaca. At the State Fair 16 departments of the college were 

 represented, and a staff of between 20 and 25 men was in constant 

 attendance giving advice to hundreds of inquirers. In addition 

 there have been exhibits at 20 county and town fairs. As secretary 

 of the Xew York Experimenters' League this office aids and pro- 

 motes the co-operative experiments as outlined by the different 

 departments, and refers the correspondence as it arises to the de- 

 partments concerned. Some 500 such experiments were conducted 

 during the year. 



