394 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



had at least one year's practical experience and residence on a farm. Such 

 boys should devote at least 12 consecutive months to farm work before com- 

 mencing their course. The heads of colleges should prepare a list of farmers 

 in their neighborhood who are willing to offer farm pupils the practical train- 

 irig required, and it might be desirable for agricultural colleges with farms in 

 their neighborhood to provide a 12 months' practical farm course to precede 

 the regular two years' course. The conference is of the opinion that where- 

 ever possible the elementary instruction in pure science, which must precede 

 more advanced instruction in applied science, should be given by an agricultural 

 scientist and should be given an agricultural bias. Should the practical ex- 

 perience be required for admission it might be advisable to devote the first 

 year mainly to the subject of science, the teaching of which should be illus- 

 trated, as far as possible, by agricultural ob.1ects and should include instruc- 

 tion in the properties of soils, the nutrition of plants, and the elements of 

 manuring, and at lenst one day a week should be devoted to such nonscientifie 

 subjects as surveying, and practical instruction on the farm. It is suggested 

 that the efforts of the staffs should be concentrated on the thorough teaching 

 of agriculture, including manual instruction and the use and repair of ma- 

 chinery, chemistry, botany, animal physiology, elementary surveying, rural 

 economics, and simple farm bookkeeping, and that farmer-students should not 

 be compelled to attend classes in geology, entomology, engineering, architectural 

 drawing, etc., although they should be given the opportunity of attending 

 classes in one or more of these subjects If they wish to do so. The minimum 

 length of courses of this type should be two winter sessions with one summer 

 term or three winter sessions. The normal length of a continuous course should 

 be two years or six terms. 



Very few institutions in England and Wales have an agricultural course ex- 

 actly suited to the requirements of students intending to manage estates. For 

 such students one year's exi>erience in practical farming is also found desirable. 

 Students not studying for a degree should for the first two years follow a 

 similar course to that prescribed for farmer-students, but exacting a somewhat 

 higher standard, and devote a third year to specialization. Instruction should 

 also be given in forestry, agi-icultural valuations, rating and taxation, agricul- 

 tural law, estate bookkeeping, building construction, and in some cases ad- 

 vanced surveying and leveling. 



Six appendixes contain lists of witnesses, summaries of evidence, and written 

 statements received by the committee, a summary of replies to a schedule of 

 questions circwlated by the conference, a list of agi-icultural colleges and de- 

 partments in England and Wales, and data as to the number, percentage, and 

 occupations of students. It is shown that of a total of 1,0S3 students leaving 

 a total of 11 institutions in England and Wales in 190S-1911, 740 are farming, 

 116 managing estates, and 58 teaching agriculture. 



Agricultural and industrial work in the schools of Hamilton County, J. F. 

 Haines {Purdue Univ. Dept. Agr. Ext. Bui. 11, 1912, pp. 8, figs. 8). — This is a 

 brief account of young people's agricultural club work in Hamilton County, 

 Indiana. 



Boys' and girls' agricultural clubs in Massachusetts, 1913, W. R. Hart 

 (Moss. Agr. Col., Dept. Agr. Ed. Circ. 18, 1913, pp. ^). — A brief review is given 

 of the development of the agricultural club work begun in Massachusetts 5 

 years ago, as well as plans for the future. 



Manual of uniform course of study for the elementary schools of Ohio, 

 F. W. Miller (Columhus, Ohio, 1912, pp. 225). — Definite outlines, suggestions to 

 teachers, and reference literature are given in nature study and agriculture for 

 the elementary schools of Ohio. 



