1012 EXPEKIMENT STATION" RECORD. 



There has been comparatively little effort in our agricultural colleges 

 in the direction of providing courses of post-graduate instruction in 

 the different branches of agriculture. The need for such advanced 

 study for men who are to become instructors in the agricultural col- 

 leges, investigators in the experiment stations, and leaders in other 

 fields of agricultural endeavor is being felt. This is a healthful sign, 

 for it indicates that we are making progress. The establishment of a 

 graduate school of agriculture, even though it covers onl}^ one month, 

 is a significant step, for it marks a distinct epoch in the development 

 of agricultural education. 



The school is unique, for, so far as known, no such summer school 

 of agriculture, em))racing in its corps of instructors so man}^ of the 

 leading agricultural teachers and investigators, has ever been held 

 b}' any country before. The opportunity to meet these specialists 

 and gain something of their points of view is in itself an unusual 

 one, which should prove of great advantage to the students; and the 

 number and character of the latter will insure the instructors an 

 inspiring audience. 



An important result of the school will be to show some of the lines 

 along which agriculture ma}' profitably be specialized, and to open up 

 to the younger college graduates the opportunities which are aflorded 

 for advanced study. It will serve also to bring out the strength of^ 

 the Avorkcrs in their respective lines, and to enforce the desirability 

 of making provision for university instruction in agriculture. As 

 the dean of the school said in his opening address: "In an unusual 

 measure we believe this school will furnish inspiration and up-to-date 

 knowledge to workers in our agricultural institutions gathered out of 

 many States and Territories; but beyond this we believe that in its 

 ultimate results the school will greatly aid in the formation of public 

 opinion in favor of the more thorough and rational organization of 

 agricultural education and research.'' 



The early literature of agriculture, except for the writings of a 

 comparatively few authors, is very little known, even in the most 

 general way. With a view to encouraging greater familiarity with 

 the earlier writers and preparing the way for a study of their works, 

 Dr. Max Giuitz has issued a Handbook of Agricultural Literature, 

 in three parts. The first part appeared in 1897 and the third or final 

 part has just been issued. In his preface Dr. Giintz expresses the 

 belief that this early agricultural literature is a relatively neglected 

 subject, even among specialists, but that it is of value in tracing the 

 history of agriculture and the development of our theories, and might 

 well form a part of the training of men who arc taking advanced study 

 in that branch. 



