AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 595 



Cost of production of Lancaster County filler tobaccos, W. Frear and E. K. 

 HiBSHMAN (rcnnsyhania Sta. Rpt. 1909, pp. 185-198, pis. 6). — lu order to 

 understand the economic problems entering into a determination of the cost 

 of tobacco production, this article presents detailed information on the condi- 

 tions and methods of tobacco culture, harvesting, and curing in Lancaster 

 County, Pa., and data rehiting to cost of production in 11K)S as determined from 

 8 farms are reported in detail. The authors' summary of results is as follows : 



•' The cost of raising an acre of seed-leaf tobacco in Lancaster County in lOOS 

 ranged from $90.97 to $120.74; average, $113.42. 



" The yields on the farms studied ranged from 1,075 lbs. to 2.2()7 lbs. per acre; 

 average, 1,639 lbs. 



"The cost of raising a pound of seed-leaf ranged from 4 cts. to 11.3 cts., and 

 this without the complete accounting for pettj- items of expense; the avei'age 

 was 7.4 cts. 



■' Intensive cultivation tended to diminish the pound cost by greatly increasing 

 yield; but the use of a vigorous strain of plants was most effective in increasing 

 yield and thereby reducing pound cost. 



" The expenditure upon an acre of Pennsylvania Havana did not differ 

 materially from that on the seed leaf, but the low yield of the light upland 

 soil — 750 lbs. per acre — raised the pound cost to 13.8 cts. The profit may be :is 

 great iier pound, however, since this leaf on the sandy soils yields a high-grade 

 wrapper leaf. The gain per acre may be absolutely less than from the seed-leaf 

 on heavier soils. 



" Present total costs of production do not differ greatly from those 30 

 yeai-s ago." 



Minor items of farm equipment, L. W. Ellis {Ohio Sta. Circ. 98, pp. 18).— 

 Previously noted from another source ( E. S. 11.. 22, p. 402K 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



Forestry in the agricultural colleges and experiment stations, S. B. Green 

 ( Forest ry Quart.. 8 {1910). Xo. 2. pp. 1 86-190 ).— This paper, read at the con- 

 ference of Forest Schools, Washington, D. C, December 30, 1909, discusses 

 chiefly the following propositions : 



The agricultural colleges are the best equipped class of institutions in this 

 country for teaching forestry, and without establishing professional schools 

 except under certain favorable conditions, each should offer a good course in 

 farm forestry. The teaching of forestry should not be loaded upon the pro- 

 fessor of agriculture or of horticulture, but may sometimes be advantageously 

 combined with the teaching of landscape gardening. Half the time of the 

 course should be spent on identifying trees, learning their uses, and the condi- 

 tions under which they grow, with enough forestry mathematics to cover the 

 customary measuring of standing and cut timber, and with enough study of 

 protective methods to deal with forest fires, insect pests, and fungus d'seases. 

 One semester's work in forestry can be done to advantage in the agricultural 

 high schools, and a shorter course can be given in sununer schools for public 

 school teachers and others. A federal approi)riation of $5,000 annually to each 

 agricultural college for estal)lishing courses in forestry and forestry demon- 

 strations would do much to develop this work. 



School teachers and the farmer's business {Wallace's Fanner, 35 {1910), 

 No. 3.'i, p. 1116).— The author of this article believes that farm*>rs and teachers 

 generally are indifferent or ojtposed to the teaching of agriculture in the ele- 

 mentary public schools, but that such teaching is feasible in the higher grades. 



