1919] AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 793 



possibilities of error and variation. There are Included articles analysing the 

 main factors in the rise of prices <>f these commodities and of freights between 

 August, 1914, and the fall of 1917. 



Annual agricultural statistics of France, 1916 (Stati«. Agr. Ann. [Paris], 



1916, i>i>. -'(20). — This report gives for the year liiltJ in formation similar to that 

 previously noted for 1918 (E. S. K., 34, p. 891 ). 



Crop statistics for Switzerland in 1917 {Sehtoeiz. A nhaustntis, No. 208 

 I 1917), pp. A A j 7//+^6'3).— Tills publishes in German, French, and Italian the 

 findings of an official Inquiry made between July 7 ami 14, 1!»17. 



Statistics on the production of cereals and legumes, 1918 ( Estadisti< a de la 

 Production de Qereale* y Leguminosas en cl A>j<> 1918. Madrid: <;<>rt., 1918, 

 pp. .}/). — Estimated yields of the principal cereals and legumes in the dry and 

 Irrigated regions, by provinces, in Spain are given, with notes on the metero- 

 logical conditions for the agricultural year 1917-18. 



Area, classification of area, area under crops, live stock, land revenue as- 

 sessment, and transfers of land in certain native States, G. F. Shikkas (Agr. 

 stalls. India, 82 (1915-16), U, pp. Vll+107, pi. 1).— This report continues in- 

 formation previously noted (E. S. It., 38, p. 596), adding data for another 

 Beason. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



Second annual report of the Federal Board for Vocational Education {Ann. 

 Bpt. Fed. Bd. Vocat. Ed., 2 {1918), pp. i?..').— This is a report of progress on 

 i']c administration of the Federal Vocational Education Act of February u."., 



1917, dealing with the meaning of the act; cooperation; war problems; the vo- 

 cational rehabilitation of disabled soldiers and sailors; war training; agricul- 

 tural, trade and industrial, home economics, and commercial education; allot- 

 ments; and general statistics on schools, teachers, pupils, and expenditures. 



It is estimated that between 110 and 30 per cent of the high schools in the 

 United States are giving truly vocational instruction in agriculture. State 

 boards for vocational education reported for the fiscal year 1917-18 G09 special 

 schools of agriculture or agricultural departments in high schools which had 

 qualified for Federal aid under the act. 



With reference to special secondary agricultural schools, the statement is 

 made that their "instruction in all cases is strictly vocational in aim, and has 

 undoubtedly had a good Influence in showing to high schools the importance 

 of the vocational aim in agricultural instruction. However, in many cases 

 Students at these special secondary schools get little actual farming experi- 

 ence. ... It is granted that there is need for both special and secondary 

 schools of agriculture and for courses in agriculture in our public high schools. 

 However, for the majority of pupils the advantage is conceded to be in agri- 

 cultural courses in the established high schools. 



It is concluded that the tirst year during which the Vocational Education Act 

 has been in operation promises well for the future. Agricultural education 

 thought has been stimulated throughout the country. The quality of much of 

 the work previously initiated has been improved, and new work has been 

 started along approved lines. Investigations as to agricultural education have 

 been instituted, of which some are already completed. Every State has set up 

 plans for the training of teachers of vocational agriculture and has designated 

 institutions where the work is to be carried on. Practically every State has 

 formulated plans for the supervision of the teaching of vocational agriculture 

 in secondary schools. The outstanding advance of the year is found to be not 

 in the introduction of agriculture in a largo number of schools but in standards 

 having been set up for the work and the trend of the instruction having been 

 definitely and permanently turned toward practicality and vocational efficiency. 



