418 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



At the head of the staff is R. B. Greig, professor of agriculture, economic science, 

 and engineering field work. In addition to the instruction given in the college it is 

 planned to establish "if possible research stations or experimental farms." 



Smith Agricultural School. — According to a note in the Amherst Record, at the com- 

 ing city election in Northhampton, Mass., the city will be called upon to elect 

 three persons who shall serve as "superintendents" of the ".Smith Agricultural 

 School," to be established with funds bequeathed under the will of the late Oliver 

 Smith. Oliver Smith died in 1845, leaving $30,000 for the establishment of "a model 

 farm and an experimental farm where worthy young men could make a study of 

 agriculture in its various branches, and .also a school where a young man could lie 

 trained in mechanics." Under the terms of the will the fund was to be allowed to 

 accumulate for 60 years, and will therefore become available next year, when it will 

 amount to approximately $300,000. It is stated that the provisions of the will are 

 not so specific as to prevent considerable latitude on the part of those charged with 

 the execution of the bequest. The general character of the school will therefore 

 depend quite largely upon the "superintendents" who are elected. 



New Agricultural Institution in Canada. — Sir William C. Macdonald, of Montreal, 

 who has taken a deep interest in rural education and recently contributed funds for 

 the establishment of concentration schools as an experiment, has decided to estab- 

 lish the Macdonald Foundation for Rural Education in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, 

 20 miles west of Montreal. A site of about*700 acres of first-class land, with fine 

 exposure overlooking the Ottawa River, has been purchased. Prof. James W. Rob- 

 ertson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Dairying of the Dominion Government, 

 will be at the head of the new institution. 



It is proposed to have three departments, i. e., of research, of instruction, and of 

 farms. The department of research will comprise research work in the sciences as 

 related to agricultural and horticultural operations and to rural life generally. The 

 department of instruction will provide long and short courses, and will furnish a 

 headquarters for advanced education bearing upon rural life in Canada. In addition 

 to carrying on work along lines somewhat similar to those followed at the best col- 

 leges of agriculture, there will be a division of household science, provision for 

 special courses in nature study for teachers of rural schools, and a division of manual 

 training. 



The department of farms will provided for (1) a dairy farm, (2) a meat producing 

 farm, and (3) a "small cultures" farm. Each of these will be arranged, equipped, 

 stocked, manned, and managed so as to illustrate the best know T n systems and 

 methods of profitable agriculture. Within each farm there will be a series of small 

 farms of from 1 to 5 acres. Apprentices will be received and, in addition to the 

 general work of the larger farms, will be given charge of these small farms for actual 

 practice work. These small practice farms are an outgrowth of experience with 

 school gardens at rural schools, where a plat is assigned to each child. 



The main buildings will be constructed in a fireproof manner, and will include 

 residences for men and women students. The whole expense of establishing this 

 institution will be borne by Sir William Macdonald, who will also endow it. 



Butter Control Stations in the Netherlands. — A recent publication of the Agricul- 

 tural Department of the Netherlands describes the butter control stations, which 

 have lately been established by agricultural societies and dairy associations, under 

 the general supervision of the provincial governments. These stations are designed 

 to keep down the adulteration of butter, and to protect honest manufacturers and 

 dealers by exercising control over their products and issuing a guarantee of purity. 

 There are at present seven of these control stations and another is being organized. 

 At the head of each station is a chemist as director, with as many analysts as may 

 be necessary and one or more inspectors. These inspectors take samples of the but- 

 ter and all materials used in its manufacture in the butter factories or sales rooms 



