NOTES. 99 



Is the aim, most of the agricultural work should be taken in the regular courses, 

 though by cooperation between the agricultural and pedagogical teacher a few 

 special courses might be arranged, but even these should be taught by the 

 agricultural specialist. The professional work should not be confined to one 

 year but should be extended through the last two years with the privilege of 

 taking some of it in the second year if the student desired. This professional 

 work must include, among other things, the proper organization of the agricul- 

 tural material into teachable form and practice in teaching it in that form. 

 In institutions where only limited preparation can be made, either in summer 

 sessions or regular term, a few of the most essential regular courses should 

 be taken, but a larger number of specially arranged courses would be permis- 

 sible here than under more favorable circumstances. These should be com- 

 posite courses arranged cooperatively by the department of agricultural edu- 

 cation and the particular agricultural department or departments concerned, 

 but should be taught by the agricultural specialist." 



In discussing this paper, G. A. Bricker of the Ohio State University sug- 

 gested the offering of different amounts of technical agriculture, depending 

 upon the character of the work to be undertaken by the teacher, this to be sup- 

 plemented by i^edagogical training by the department of agricultural education. 



In discussing the preparation of extension and field men in the agricultural 

 college, C. H. Tuck of Cornell University contended that in addition to strong 

 courses in the various branches of agriculture, a department of expression 

 should be maintained, the function of which should be to discover and to de- 

 velop the men peculiarly fitted by nature for the extension service. G. I. 

 Christie of Purdue University advocated providing some practical experience in 

 extension work for the men while still pursuing their college courses. 



The scope and purpose of agriculture in secondary schools was discussed by 

 Director H. M. Loomis of the Smith Agricultural School at Northampton, Mass., 

 who pointed out reasons for introducing agriculture into the public schools and 

 offered suggestions relative to methods in secondary agriculture. He held that 

 in teaching this subject no set scheme should be followed as yet, inasmuch as 

 secondary agricultural instruction is in a state of progress and facts learned 

 with regard to it should be verified. This paper was discussed by T. I. Mairs 

 of the Pennsylvania State College, who maintained that agriculture in the 

 course of study is justified by its relation to conserva.tion, high cost of living, 

 economics, and general culture, and that the teaching of agriculture in the 

 high schools creates a sentiment in favor of the subject both in the school and 

 the community. 



The committee on the use of land in connection with agricultural teaching 

 presented through C. G. Selvig a progress report dealing with the special agri- 

 cultural school. R. W. Stimson reported upon the teaching of agriculture in 

 the public high schools, and L. S. Ivins on the same topic in the elementary 

 schools. F. W. Howe, of Syracuse University, presented a brief progress report 

 on the cooperative use of equipment and illustrative material. The various 

 committees were continued. 



The officers elected for the ensuing year were R. W. Stimson, president; 

 A. V. Storm, vice-president; and W. H. French, secretary-treasurer. 



American Society of Animal Production. — This society, hitherto known as the 

 American Society of Animal Nutrition, held its fifth annual meeting at Chi- 

 cago, 111., December 3, 1913. 



E. B. Forbes presented a paper entitled Mineral Metabolism Experiments 

 with Swine, in which he described the equipment and methods employed in 

 metabolism experiments at the Ohio Station, and gave the results of investiga- 

 tions on the effect of water and mineral salts and on creatinin. F. G. King 



