EDITOEIAL. 107 



fields so that the ditch water will moisten the soil uniformly; and 

 what is the most suitable device for measuring water? In other 

 instances information is wanted on the construction of reservoirs and 

 tanks, the installation of pumps, the erection of windmills, and the 

 drainage of seeped lands. 



These calls for help come with every mail to both the Department 

 of Agriculture and the agricultural colleges and experiment stations. 

 Even in the West only a few of the agricultural colleges maintain 

 strong departments in irrigation commensurate with the importance 

 of the subject and its efficient investigation. 



Taken as a whole, the land-grant colleges may be said to have ex- 

 pended little effort or money in training specialists for engineering 

 work of agricultural communities. This is perhaps not strange, for 

 in the past the demand for engineers has been largely in connection 

 with municipal and development work. But the present interest in 

 agricultural development, in making land more efficient in production, 

 and in the improvement of rural conditions in a variety of directions, 

 has opened the way for the agricultural engineer and calls for the 

 adequate development of the subject at the agricultural colleges. The 

 held is broadening year by year, and in many cases is already being 

 occupied by men who have had no contact with agricultural condi- 

 tions or problems. 



Unless the curricula of the engineering courses of these institutions 

 are modified there is certain to be overcrowding in the older branches 

 of the engineering profession. Meanwhile progress in agriculture 

 and the improvement of rural districts are being immeasurably 

 retarded through the lack of competent agricultural engineers. 



711.'5T°— x\u. 2—11 2 



