2 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Among its numerous departments the university has one for agri- 

 culture, which has met with such success as to be of interest to students 

 of agricultural education. It is especially encouraging as showing the 

 desire for agricultural education by a large body of people who are 

 unable to take up even the short courses offered by so many of the 

 agricultural colleges. This department is presided over by Dr. Lewis 

 McLouth, formerly president of the South Dakota Agricultural Col- 

 lege The field of agricultural science and art has been divided and 

 subdivided under numerous heads, and general and special courses 

 planned to suit the varied demands of pupils. These cover the whole 

 range of the subject, from climate and soil, plant production, animal 

 production, and agricultural industries, to agricultural engineering and 

 business management. In planning these courses and selecting books 

 for the reading. Dr. McLouth has had the counsel of various educators 

 in this field and of specialists. The number of excellent books on 

 various phases of agriculture which have been published during the 

 past few years has been a great aid to this work. 

 The announcement of the agricultural department states that — 

 "The need of the average farmer of to day is undoubtedly the power 

 to take a comprehensive view of the agricultural possibilities of his 

 own surroundings. This is obtainable only by study over a field broad 

 enough to enlarge the limited horizon of everyday practical experience. 

 The problem which he must have clearly in mind is, What is the utmost 

 I can do with my present surroundings? 



"Thinking brains and trained hands are necessary to success in 

 farming as in all occupations; but the power of good thinking can 

 come only from a thorough analysis and complete understanding of the 

 subject. The science and practice of farming, in its highest form, 

 finds scope for as much knowledge and trained skill as any of the so- 

 called 'learned professions.' " 



It is to assist those who are debarred by circumstances from attend- 

 ing an agricultural college but who feel the need of this technical 

 training that the agricultural department of the university is striving. 

 It is gratifying to note that although this department has been organ- 

 ized but a few months nearly 200 persons have taken up the agricultural 

 course, and the interest and enthusiasm displayed by a considerable 

 proportion is most hopeful. These pupils have been drawn from 

 nearly all the walks of life — professional men, retired business men, 

 horticulturists, nurserymen, farmers and breeders, mechanics, clerks 

 in stores, farm laborers, factory operatives, etc. Both sexes and nearly 

 all ages are represented. Each reader is invited to send to the univer- 

 sity once a month a written abstract or synopsis of his month's reading 

 for discussion and criticism. At the completion of each course exam- 

 inations are taken if the reader desires. Questions may be freely asked 

 by pupils at any time concerning difficulties in the reading or in any 

 way bearing upon the subject-matter of study. There are no fees of 



