390 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 41 



There is a growing belief tliat more technical work should be given early in the 

 curriculum. That some institutions, in making up their schedules, apparently 

 give more attention to classroom and laboratory facilities and to the conven- 

 ience of instructors than to a careful balancing of the student's work would 

 appear to be indicated by the uneven distribution in the curriculum of the 

 heavy science courses. A lack of a clear conception of what shcnild be re- 

 quired for the bachelor's degree in agriculture is suggested by the variation 

 in content of the curriculum. 



The great vai'iation in the distribution of the required work among the 

 various groups or classes of subjects suggests a divergence of views concern- 

 ing educational aims. There is a tendency among certain institution,s during 

 recent years to emphasize the economic and sociological phases of the training, 

 while others place the emphasis upon technical efttciency. The danger lies in 

 the failure to adapt college curricula to the ever-changing economic conditions. 



It is found that in only a few States is any conspicuous attempt being made 

 to consolidate the curricula of the elementary and preparatory schools with the 

 curriculum of the college in such a way as to suggest appropriate sequences 

 embracing the whole period of training for professicmal agriculture. Such a 

 consolidation contemplates a single and complete program of instruction cov- 

 eiing a period of approximately 10 years instead of two or three quite distinct 

 programs of shorter duration. 



Many colleges still fail to appreciate tlie importance of requiring a fair de- 

 gree of proficiency in practical farm (»i)erations. 



Report of the education branch for the year 1916-17 (Jour. Bd. Ayr. [Loiv- 

 don], 25 {19JS), No. 8, pp. 93If-9J,l). — This is the annual report of the British 

 Boai'd of Agriculture and Fisheries, dealing with the educational, research, 

 and advisory woi*k of the various institutions and local education authorities 

 for 1916-17, as well as with the payment of grants during the liscal year ended 

 March 31, 1917. 



Grants paid to institutions providing higher agricultural educatitm have been 

 reduced or withdrawn in certain cases. The Holmes Chapel College, Cheshire, 

 was closed on account of the war, while the Seale-IIayne College, Newton Ab- 

 bott, received a grant of $972 for the equipment of the college farm when the in- 

 stitution was opened for the training of women for work on the land. The col- 

 lege buildings, the completion of which had to be suspended after the outbreak 

 of the war, were taken over by the war office as a military hospital, as were 

 also the new buildings of the Midland Agricultural and Dairy College at Sutton 

 Bonington. The attendance of students for long courses at the higher agricul- 

 tural education institution (348) showed a further nniterial decrease from pre- 

 war standards (1,200). The agricultural activities of the county councils 

 were again dii'ected mainly toward war problems. 



The total of the grants made by the board for 1910-17, which was $370,220, 

 included $r)8,]25 for universities and colleges, $33,111 for advisory work, $87,5.53 

 for research institutes and other research centers. $30,304 for special research 

 and investigations, $3,198 for research scholarships, $127,434 for farm schools, 

 technical classes, local lectures, etc., $7,650 for the establishment of farm 

 schools, $4,447 for expenses of advisory councils, and $12,398 for forestry ad- 

 vice, research, and experiments. 



Report of the Direction of Agriculture for 1917 (Dcpt. Landb., Nijv. en 

 Ilandcl [Netherlands^, Vcrxlag Dir. Landh., 1917, pp. T//-f 77).— This is a re- 

 port on the status of higher, secondary, and elementary instruction in agricul- 

 ture, horticulture, and forestry, instruction in honu' economics, veterinary 

 science and dairying, and extension and experimental work under Ihe Direction 

 of Agriculture in the Netherlands in 1917. 



