CONVENTION OF AMFRICAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. 519 



Hononihlo J. 11. Brig-ham, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, spoke 

 of the short courses as a means not only of giving- vahiable instruction 

 to farmers, but also of bringing about more cordial relations between 

 the agricultural colleges and the farmers. In his judgment "the best 

 way to secure the support of farmers is to let them come to the college 

 even for a short time and see that you are trying to do good." 



W. A. Henry pointed out the conditions which led to the establish- 

 ment of the dairy course and the farmers' course in Wisconsin, both 

 of which he described in detail. 



The workings and advantages of the short courses in a number of 

 other States were briefly discussed by other speakers. 



SECTION ON MECHANIC ARTS. 



The sessions of this section were occupied in discussing the future 

 policy of the section as suggested by H. W. Tyler in his reports to the 

 association for the year. The general policy advocated in Dr. Tyler's 

 paper was that of giving more attention to the discussion of one or 

 two broad engineering subjects in the section meetings, rather than 

 encouraging the presentation of papers on isolated independent tech- 

 nical subjects. This plan was indorsed by the section. A decided 

 sentiment in opposition to abolishing the section was manifested. 



