792 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 37 



Prices and wages in India (Dept. Statin. India, Prires and Wafje/t Indin. S2 

 {1011), pp. [2]+/V+y///+266, pis. S). — This volume continues data previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 34, p. 195) by adding data for later years. 



[Agricultural statistics of Japan] {R^sum^ Statis. Empire Japon, SI (1917), 

 pp. 227, pis. 4). — These pa^'es give the area and production of the principal f-rops 

 for 1915, with comparisons for earlier years, number of live stock for 1914, and 

 area in forests and quantity of forest products harvested in 1915. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



Secondary agricultural schools in Russia, W. S. Jesien (U. S. Bur. Ed. Bui. 

 4 (1917), pp. 22). — This bulletin deals with legislation for the maintenance ui" 

 agricultural schools in Russia and the organization of secondary agricultural 

 education, including admission requirements, statistics, sources of maintenance, 

 courses of study, and the training of teachers. An account is also given of the 

 organization and work of the Bessarabian School of Viticulture and Wine 

 Making, at Kishenef. 



The agricultural education act of 1904 places all private agricultural schools 

 under the supervision of the ministry of agriculture and imperial domains, now 

 known as the general office of land management and agriculture, and provides 

 for the maintenance of schools controlled directly by this ministry and for a 

 considerable part of the support of private schcxils. Government aid for agri- 

 cultural schools controlled by the department of agriculture increase<l from 

 $9(J4.S;W in 1907 to $2,000,410 in 1911. 



The agricultural schools are dividiHl into three clas.ses — lower or primnry. 

 middle or secondary, and hi.L'her schools, the latter subject to regulations not 

 included in this act. The secondary schools have for their object the furnish- 

 ing to students of a practical .igricultunil education, bastMl on scientific jirin 

 ciples, in order to prepare them for agricultural work; the higher prinmry 

 schools, preparation for practical farming; and the eH>menlary school.'^, prepara- 

 tion mainly by practical instruction, of men infornie<l and skilltMl in resi>ect to 

 farm work. 



The secondary schools are stated to be admirably organizeil and innnai:c<l and 

 have a curriculum of wider scope than is ntves.sary for purely practical instruc- 

 tion of peasant youths. Many of their graduates become managers of large 

 estates, government officials, teachers, etc., while only a small part return to 

 farming on a small scale. Almost all of the schools are boarding schools and 

 nominal tuition fees are charged, but poorer children are aided by scholarships 

 from government and private sources. 



On .January 1, 1910, there were 15 secondary agricultural schools, the oldest 

 of which was founded In ISJ'J in Moscow. The number of instructors in these 

 schools ranged from 7 to 26 p«^r .<?chool, the number of students from 35 to 277. 

 the annual expenditure from .$17,609 to $54..5."i0, and the value of school prop- 

 erty from $49,834 to .$598,400. The course of study extended over six Yc;irs, the 

 last year being devoted almost entirely to practical work. The 'general sub- 

 jects taught have nearly the same scope as in the gynmasia. Horticulture is 

 taught 2 hours weekly in the fourth year; agriculture 3 hours, zootechny 4 

 hours, farm economy 6 hours, survey of the farming Industry 1 hour, agricul- 

 tural technology' 2 hours, agricultural machines and general mechanics 2 hours, 

 and geodesy 2 hours weekly in the fifth .nnd sixth years each; meteorology 1 

 hour weekly In the fifth year; and veterinary meflicine and forestry 1 hour each 

 a week in the sixth year. Oourses for triiining teachers for primary agricul- 

 tural schools have also been established at some of these schools. 



