258 EXPERI.MENT STATION UECOUD. 



subject. A motion to lay the iimtter oii the talilc was carried by a 

 lar^e majority. President Silvester, of ?klarylaiid, however, brought 

 up the subject at a subsequeut meeting, in order that it might be again 

 laid before tlie Association at its next annual convention. 



The discussion in connection with the pro])osed change of name of 

 the Association sliowed a rapidly-growing interest in mechanical 

 instruction in tlie land-grant colleges. President J. K. Patterson, of 

 Kentucky, urged the necessity for increased facilities for instruction in 

 tliis line, and maintained that the mechanics and artisans, who largely 

 represent the explosive elements of our society, really have more need 

 of education than the more conservative farming element. A thought- 

 ful and very practical paper on mechanical instruction in agricultural 

 colleges, by W. E. Drake, of Uhode Island, presented from the section 

 on mechanic arts, was well received. 



Prof. J. W. Hoffman, director of the agricultural department of the 

 Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, explained to the convention what this 

 institution is doing for the colored farmers of Alabama in the way of 

 training in industrial lines, practical advice at agricultural conferences, 

 and moral uplifting. President Broun, of the Alabama College, highly 

 commended the woik done at Tuskegee. 



Hon. W. T. Harris, T. S. Commissioner of Education, si)oke of the 

 need of improved methods of teaching agriculture, and of the desira- 

 bility of specializing and adapting agricultnral training to the varying 

 needs and capacities of different minds. He also urged the necessity 

 of reducing agricultural instruction to a pedagogic system like that fol- 

 lowed in philosophy, language, etc.; and commended the practice of 

 giving fellowships to encourage original investigation in advanced 

 lines. 



Dr. A. C. True, director of this Oftice, brietiy reviewed the work of 

 the Ottice during the year. He also suggested some ways in which the 

 management of the experiment stations might be improved, especially 

 urging that each station should be conducted as a unit under the direc- 

 tion of an executive oflicer Mith full powers and responsibility. 



The cordial invitation of Prof. Dr. Xobbe to workers in agri(,'ultural 

 science in this country to attend the meetings of the German Associa- 

 tion of Agricultural Exiteriment Stations was acknowledged in an 

 appreciative resolution, in Mhich a similar invitation was extended to 

 members of the German association. P>y a resolution introduced by 

 Director J. A. Meyers, of West A^irginia, the agricultural institutions 

 of the Dominion of Canada were invited to send representatives to the 

 conventions of the Associaticm. 



The following resolution, drafted by Prof. H. C. White, of (xcorgia, 

 regarding the su]i<'rvision of ex])enditures of stations receiving Federal 

 approjiriations, was ado]ited after sonu' discussion: 



Resolved, That this Association heartily approvPfs tlie recent legislation liy Congress 

 giving the Secretary of Agricultnre a measure of supervision over expenditures of 

 the stations. 



