CONVENTION OF COLLEGES AND EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 117 

 SECTION ON EXTENSIOK WORK. 



The sessions of this new section, provided by the association at its 

 last convention, were of much interest in view of the present activity 

 in extension work and the many problems it presents as to organiza- 

 tion, methods, etc. 



The present status of agricultural extension was discussed in a 

 paper by K. L. Butterfield. It w^as shown that 35 colleges and experi- 

 ment stations, representing 32 States and Territories, have now 

 organized for agricultural extension work, the oldest dating back only 

 to 1!)01, and only five extending back beyond 190G. There are now 

 113 persons regularly employed for the sole purpose of agricultural 

 extension w^ork. 



The form or type of organization differs greatly in different States, 

 and in some there is as yet no organization, the work being carried 

 on by different members of the college or station staff independently 

 of one another, and with no central coordinating or unifying control. 



No common type of organization for extension work seems at pres- 

 ent feasible in the several States, but the general concensus of opinion 

 favors an organization which wnll be coordinate with interior instruc- 

 tion and research, and which will at the same time recognize and 

 maintain departmental integrity in the institution as based on subject 

 matter. 



John Hamilton, of this Office, in continuing the discussion of this 

 subject, showed the need of systematic methods of procedure in suc- 

 cessful and permanent extension teaching, outlined the numerous 

 activities involved, indicated a system of procedure embracing the 

 complete organization of extension teaching, mapped out the field 

 of work, gave the present financial resources for this activity in the 

 United States, and spoke of the need of Federal appropriation. In 

 1910 there was appropriated by 25 States tlie suui of $286,950 for 

 agricultural education extension, while receipts from other sources 

 brought the total u.p to $447,110.92. 



IT. L. Russell emphasized the need of a clarification of the prin- 

 ciples of organization in extension work, and supported the plan 

 which correlates the extension work with that of research and interior 

 teaching, and at the same time preserves departmental integrity. 

 Some form of demonstration was conceded to be the best plan for 

 reaching the persons most in need of assistance, and a concrete case 

 w^as cited in regard to bovine tuberculosis. 



The subject of extension schools was presented by E. A. Burnett, 

 who held that the movable school is capable of adapting itself to a 

 variety of conditions, and is especially applicable to the needs of 

 advanced rural communities where a high order of systematic m- 

 struction is needed, or where special industries are being developed. 



