10 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In conclusion, Dr. Claxton outlined liis plan for increasing the effectiveness of 

 the Bureau of Education, with estimates necessary for carrying out that pro- 

 gram. 



Committee on instruction in agriculture. — The report of this committee, pre- 

 sented by Dr. A. C. True, chairman, dealt with (1) the grouping of studies in 

 college courses in agriculture and (2) the relation of rural economics to farm 

 management. 



Under the first head, the conditions as found at several agricultural colleges 

 were reviewed, the grouping of studies in courses of chemistry and civil engi- 

 neering at several colleges outside of this group being cited for comparison. 

 Referring to a previous report of the committee on the arrangement of agricul- 

 tural courses, it was stated that further study of the question indicates that 

 some of the more elementary subjects in agriculture should be taught in the 

 freshman year. The present increased requirements for entrance to college 

 are one factor in making this modification desirable. 



On behalf of the committee, Dr. Thomas F. Hunt presented a report on rural 

 economics and farm management, indicating that there is a general consensus 

 of opinion, although not entirely unanimous, that there are two classes of sub- 

 ject matter in the field of economics, one dealing with the farm as a unit (farm 

 management) and the other with the community as a unit (rural economics). 

 The committee concluded that the subject taught or investigated under the head 

 of farm management, as related to the organization and management of indi- 

 vidual estates, necessarily involves the application of the principles of eco- 

 nomics, and that " these principles constitute the scientific basis of farm man- 

 agement and give this subject its only just claim for consideration as having a 

 pedagogical value. . . . 



" The mere collection of the details of methods of conducting different farms 

 will not sufl3ce; there must be the reference of these methods to some underly- 

 ing principles. When this is done it is clear that farm management comes 

 within the domain of economics, because the purpose of farming is to secure 

 a profit from the use of the land and its equipment." 



The committee urged the desirability of using the term rural economics as 

 applicable to the general field of economics in its relation to agriculture and 

 rural communities. " The term farm management may properly be restricted 

 to that phase of rural economics which deals with the business organization and 

 direction of individual farm enterprises, or, in other words, deals with the farm 

 as a unit." The desirability of developing strong courses in both rural eco- 

 nomics and sociology was emphasized. 



Committee on graduate study. — ^This committee reported, through Dr. H. P. 

 Armsby, chairman, that arrangements had been made to hold the fifth session of 

 the graduate school of agriculture at the Michigan Agricultural College in the 

 summer of 1912. Courses will be given on the physics, chemistry and biology 

 of soils, agronomy, and horticulture; on animal physiology, beef and dairy 

 cattle, swine, and poultry; on rural engineering, and on rural economics. The 

 general principles of research and pedagogical questions relating to collegiate, 

 secondary, and extension teaching of agriculture will be discussed at Saturday 

 and evening conferences. The faculty will include teachers and investigators 

 from European and American universities, the agricultural colleges, and the 

 United States Department of Agriculture. 



The report also referred to a recent bulletin of the Bureau of Education on 

 " The facilities for graduate study in agriculture in the United States," to which 

 reference has been previously made.^ 



IE. S. R., 25, p. 705. 



