404 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



an extent as we have, a system of education fairly comprehensive in 

 its aim and scope, to develop a real science of afri'iculture, and to 

 or<^anize a great popular movement for the betterment, not only of 

 agricultural practice, but also of the general conditions of country 

 life. And it is only in this way that we can fairly judge the results 

 of the work of those sections of the land-grant colleges which have 

 actually been devoted to agriculliual education and research. 



The practical influence of the agricultural college is not easily esti- 

 mated without a wide studv. and if judged by the testimony of the 

 average farmer, is likel}- to be much underrated. Any such estimate 

 must inevitably take account of the experiment stations, which are 

 an outgrowth and integral part of these institutions. 



Despite a frequent popular conception, the principal activities of 

 the colleges and stations have not been on the theoretical side, how- 

 ever technical their work may sometimes seem in its intermediate 

 stages. The extension of the college's influence to the farmers and 

 countr}^ people, although comi^aratively new, has been a function of 

 far greater import than it is usually credited with. This function 

 has until recently rested in large measure on the experiment stations, 

 which have had little if any special funds for the purpose. The 

 farmers' institute system has in some cases been in charge of the col- 

 lege, and in others in the hands of the state department or board of 

 agriculture or other local agencies. These varied efforts are now 

 being gathered together and systematized in special extension depart- 

 ments; and although it has not ahvays found expression in its organi- 

 zation, the work of the agricultural college is generally recognized 

 as falling under three heads — the investigation work of the experi- 

 ment station, the instruction of the collegiate departments, and the 

 extension features. 



The short courses held by many of the colleges, sometimes at the 

 colleges and sometimes in different localities in the State, are proj)erly 

 classed as extension work. These have reached many thousand young 

 men from the farms and large numbers of practical farmers. They 

 have been large factors in preparing the way for the reception of 

 collegiate work. The farmers' week now held at a considerable num- 

 ber of colleges has proved immenseh^ popular, with an attendance 

 which has taxed to the utmost the capacity of the institutions. Edu- 

 cational trains have been operated in every section of the country, 

 over steam roads, electric roads, and even steamboat lines. Farmers' 

 excursions have been run to the colleges, bringing large numbers to 

 spend a day going over the institution. Local cooperative exjjeri- 

 ments to demonstrate improved methods have been conducted exten- 

 sively; cattle-testing associations have been organized to stimulate 

 interest in keeping better grades of dairy stock; local post-mortem 



