106 EXPEKIMEN^T STATION KECORD. 



secure definite results along these lines. Many of the projects for 

 specialists thus far submitted to the Department under the Smith- 

 Lever Act are far too general and do not reveal any thorough study 

 of what is actually needed or feasible. This is undoubtedly due in 

 part to the rush of work imposed on tlie extension officers during the 

 past year, and it will be expected that there will be definite improve- 

 ment along this line in the near future. 



The difficulties of the colleges in the proper development of their 

 extension staffs and enterprises are greatly enhanced by the extrava- 

 gant expectations regarding the immediate effect of this work on our 

 agricultural advancement entertained by the public, partly as a re- 

 sult of enthusiastic propaganda conducted by various agencies. Agri- 

 cultural advancement over large areas and among farming people of 

 very diverse elements is necessarily a slow process. Superficial re- 

 sults, often very beneficial as far as they go, can be obtained, it maybe, 

 in a comparatively short time. Propagandas wisely planned may be 

 useful but they will fail of permanent success unless they are fol- 

 lowed up by patient and continuous education. 



The Smith-Lever xVct has provided the means for a permanent sys- 

 tem of popular practical education in agriculture and home eco- 

 nomics, so organized as to preserve the autonomy of our state agri- 

 cultural institutions, to encourage and develop local initiative and 

 self help, and at the same time to bring to the support of the state 

 institutions and local organizations the National Department of 

 Agriculture with its broad outlook on our agricultural problems and 

 its force of scientists and experts who have specialized in various 

 lines or have had wide opportunities for study and observation in 

 certain directions. The most encouraging thing about the exten- 

 sion development in the United States during the past year has been 

 the formation on a grand scale of a cooperative system involving 

 national, state, and local organizations and the general good will and 

 cordiality which has marked the relations of these agencies in the 

 inauguration of this system. A few of the major features of this vast 

 enterprise and some of the outstanding administrative problems with 

 which it will have to deal have been briefly touched upon in this 

 article. It is obviously impracticable in so short a space to give an 

 adequate idea of the immense range and great intricacy of a work 

 which will ultimately touch every phase of the industrial, home, and 

 community life of our agricultural people. 



