108 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 41 



eral public. It is announced that the cooperation of several men of 

 world-wide reputation in agricultural leadership has already been 

 assured. 



Early in May, 1919, the entire educational system was well under 

 way, with arrangements perfected for an indefinite continuance and 

 the extension of activities. So rapid, however, had been the with- 

 drawal of the troops to this country that by June the situation was 

 radically changed. The completion of the first term's work on June 

 7 marked the virtual close of the undertaking. 



An interallied rural life conference, including a rural life pageant, 

 was held at Beaune early in June and brought together a group of 

 educators of international reputation for the discussion of agricul- 

 tural problems. The addresses of these leaders constituted an im- 

 pressive and appropriate termination of the work of the college 

 and school of agriculture. Soon afterward the Army Educational 

 Corps was disbanded, instructors and students alike were on their 

 way homeward, and the A. E. F. University and its associated activi- 

 ties were added to the other memories of the war. 



It is difficult to believe, however, that the results of this great proj- 

 ect will be wholly ephemeral or unimportant. Leaving aside the 

 great gain to the Nation in helping to keep up the morale of the 

 troops through many long months of waiting, the mental stimula- 

 tion afforded by instruction from a new corps of men in an unusual 

 environment, and the great pedagogic value of the experiment to 

 the Army. and to educators generally, it would seem that the benefits 

 to agriculture alone would have amply justified the enterprise. Who 

 can estimate, for example, the number of men from agricultural 

 colleges whose intentions to resume their education this fall have 

 been thus crystallized into action ? Or the much larger number pre- 

 viously unfamiliar with agriculture and its educational system whose 

 interest has been aroused and whose whole life work has been re- 

 directed ? Or the intangible but no less vital reaction upon the agri- 

 cultural colleges themselves as instructors and students return from 

 this novel undertaking? 



By way of conclusion attention may be drawn, though perhaps 

 needlessly, to one or two significant facts. The first is the tacit ac- 

 ceptance by all concerned of agricultural education as an integral 

 component in this elaborate educational program. Since at least 

 twenty-five per cent of the American Expeditionary Forces were 

 from farm homes this may not seem surprising, yet it may be seri- 

 ously questioned whether the same prominence would have been so 

 readily conceded a generation ago. 



In any case, it seems certain that nothing like the same success 

 would have been secured under the conditions then prevailing. AVith- 



