304 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



teachers often become county agents, and the teaching experience 

 has proved a fine training ground for them. 



The preparation requu-ed for workers in the three general divisions 

 of the agricultural work — college teaching, research or station work, 

 and extension work — was considered in a set of papers presented 

 before the college section; and the report of the standing committee 

 on agricultural instruction dealt specifically with college courses for 

 the preparation of extension workers. 



The comprehensive report as to the preparation of extension 

 workers was based on about a hundred replies to a questionnaire sent 

 to agricultural educators, extension directors and others in charge 

 of extension work, and others interested therein. The committee 

 advocated that a considerable number of the agricultural colleges 

 should offer undergraduate courses for the purpose, and that a few 

 should make sj)ecial provision for graduate instruction. 



In one of the general sessions Dr. H. L. Russell described a plan 

 for promoting advanced study through exchange Avith other colleges. 

 This had in mind the postgraduate prei)aration of men from the 

 institution, and the purpose of the plan as explained was to " avoid 

 inbreeding " and to promote " cross breeding " with other institu- 

 tions. Dr. Russell believed that not more than one-half of the 

 permanent staff above the assistant grade should be chosen from the 

 home institution. At the UniA^ersity of Wisconsin assistants are re- 

 quired to go elsewhere for advanced study, and to provide for this 

 and meet the financial difficulty which often confronts 3"oung men 

 an exchange relationship has been established with certain other col- 

 leges. This cooperative arrangement provides for mutual exchange 

 of staff members, with opportunities afforded for study. The de- 

 scription of this plan developed so much interest that the paper was 

 referred to the committee on college organization and policy, with 

 a view to arranging for a consideration of its suggestions. 



The station section had before it the question as to what the sta- 

 tions can do to encourage more men to fit themselves for advanced 

 research. It developed out of the discussion that considerable is be- 

 ing done in a systematic way by some of the institutions to advance 

 this end. One station encourages its younger men to take graduate 

 work in the local university, allowing part time for the purpose ; and 

 it followed the practice of sending older men away to other institu- 

 tions, allowing them to take their station projects Avith them and 

 work upon them under salary from the station. 



The practice of providing fellowships has become quite common. 

 In some instances promising men are selected in the senior year and 

 fellowships offered in return for special work of a research character. 



