14 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



? In its final action the association again declared itself in favor of Federal 

 appropriation in aid of extension work, in harmony with the autonomy of the 

 several States as recognized in previous legislation. It also declared in favor 

 of Federal aid for public schools of secondary grade providing education in 

 agriculture, home economics, and manual training; but it failed to express 

 itself in favor of appropriation for agriculture in normal schools, and it tabled 

 a proposal to favor the establishment of branch experiment stations on the 

 plan provided in a bill now before Congress. 



Consideration of these matters was referred to the executive committee with 

 power to act for the association, but preference was expressed for efforts to 

 secure legislation for agricultural extension. 



Plan for demonstration and farm management work. — A paper on The Farm 

 Problem Extension Work of the United States Department of Agriculture, by 

 Prof. "W. J. Spillman, read by Mr. W. A. Taylor, set forth a plan for cooperation 

 between the department and the States, the country being divided into agricul- 

 tural districts, with provision for a system to cover the whole country. The 

 method of organization and the advantages of the proposed plan were outlined. 



A paper by Dr. B. T. Galloway of this Department briefly set forth the work 

 which the Bureau has been engaged in under the title of the Farmers' Co- 

 operative Demonstration Work in the South and the Farm Management 

 Studies. Referring to the preceding paper, the belief was expressed that " there 

 is need for a systematic study of the broad questions of farm management, 

 and that the information thus gained will be of value in aiding the proiier 

 forces within the States in reorganizing and readjusting the sj^stems of farm 

 management on individual farms." 



National soil fertility league. — The association was addressed by Mr. H. H. 

 Gross, of Chicago, president of the National Soil Fertility League, who explained 

 the object of the league to be the conducting of a nation-wide campaign to 

 secure funds and support for direct aid to the farmers in improving their 

 practice and increasing agi-icultural production. 



Bibliographer's report. — The report of the bibliographer, Dr. A. C. True, 

 dealt with the library and its use for college and station purposes. From a 

 survey of the present condition of station libraries the conclusion was reached, 

 that " attention to the development of the library is not generally keeping pace 

 with that given to improvement in buildings and laboratories or other station 

 equipment." 



The frequent lack of care bestowed on pamphlet literature was pointed out, 

 and the matter of exchanges was held to call for more perseverance and dis- 

 crimination. In the subscription for scientific periodicals and the purchase of 

 handbooks, a well-matured administrative policy was said to be lacking in 

 many institutions. "The advice of experts should always be sought in such 

 matters, but consistent scrutiny by administrative officers is also required." 



In view of the growing importance of the library as an aid in investigation, 

 it was urged that " the time has come for a more generous provision for the 

 care of the present collections, for their wise extension in the future, and for 

 such bibliographical or technical work as will make their contents most avail- 

 able for the use of the investigator." 



Some systematic instruction in the use of books and libraries in connection 

 with the college courses in agriculture was advised. At present the student is 

 usually left to his own devices in using books, and after leaving college he will 

 usually be dependent upon libraries and books for keeping pace with advance- 

 ment. The college " should surely send him out equipped for making the most 

 intelligent use of the resources that will be at his command. . . . 



