EDITORIAL. 319 



nell University, and which exists in embryo at a number of other 

 place-, was confidently pointed to as one of the departments of the 

 agricultural college of the future. 



The interest in this movement was voiced by a resolution to secure if 

 possible the granting of the franking privilege to the publications of 

 the extension department, and thus allow them to stand for what they 

 are, instead of distributing them under the cloak of bulletins of the 

 experiment station. The expense of sending them out otherwise is 

 now the only reason assigned for issuing them in the station series, 

 and it was argued that the extension of the franking privilege to bul- 

 letins of this department of work would allow a clearand distinct differ- 

 entiation of the legitimate work of the experiment -tat ion. and thereby 

 complete the organization. 



The resolution was ultimately withdrawn, but the interest with 

 which it was discussed indicated how widespread is the feeling that the 

 stations and their publications are being burdened with a class of 

 material which is not strictly in their domain, and which a more com- 

 plete organization of the college of agriculture should provide for in 

 another way. It represented a very notable advance in opinion, and 

 is a most encouraging sign of a broader and clearer conception of 

 the respective functions and needs of agricultural instruction, agricul- 

 tural experimentation, and agricultural extension, which combined go 

 to make up the agricultural college of the future. 



It was recognized thai in the case of many institutions the pro- 

 gramme i- to some extent more ideal than practicable under present 

 conditions. The change can not come all at once, but it will be some- 

 thing to work toward now that the need is more evident; and with the 

 possibility of securing increased funds for agricultural work, which in 

 many of the States is now exceptionally good, the realization of some 

 of these ideals seems nearer at hand. 



