EDITORIAL. 403 



of the association, when much discussion of extension problems may 

 be expected. 



The growing sentiment in favor of better utilization of all avail- 

 able agencies for promoting agricultural education was strongly 

 emphasized in the prominence given to strictly educational features 

 at the Second National Corn Exj)osition, held at Omaha, December 

 9-19, which is enthusiastically declared by an agricultural journal 

 to have been '"• the most elaborate demonstration of farm products 

 ever held in this country." Nearly ten thousand different exhibits 

 relating more particularly to the production and utilization of farm 

 crops and representing twent3^-eight States, scattered from Connecti- 

 cut to "Washington, and from Minnesota to Texas, besides entries from 

 Hawaii. Canada. Mexico, England, and Argentina, filled to overflow- 

 ing the two hundred and fifty thousand square feet of floor space of 

 the large auditorium and the special structures erected for the occa- 

 sion. The prizes offered in the various contests aggregated in value 

 over fifty thousand dollars. It is estimated that the total attendance 

 was one hundred thousand, an average of ten thousand each day. 



The magnitude of the exposition was alone such as to bring 

 prominently to public notice the important position of American 

 agriculture, but, as expressed by another farm journal, the exposition 

 " was far more than a mere display of specimens. It was a short 

 course of study." The more popular and spectacular features, to- 

 gether with those more directly for business purposes, were by no 

 means disregarded, but a notable circumstance was the unusual atten- 

 tion devoted to educational phases, thereby making the exjjosition an 

 educational agency, especially in the realm of farm crops, such as the 

 International Live Stock Exposition has become in the field of ani- 

 mal production. 



Although in name this was the second national corn exposition, the 

 first having been held in Chicago, in October, 1907, the Omaha show 

 was the first to be developed to so elaborate a degree. Like its prede- 

 cessor, it was in name an exposition of corn, and maize and its 

 products easilj^ predominated, but the term was broadly interpreted 

 to include other cereals, grasses, an alfalfa palace, special exhibits 

 of the work of the agi'icultural colleges and experiment stations, a 

 large exhibit of farm machinery, a model kitchen, a students' judging 

 contest, and many other features of interest and value. A complete 

 distillery plant for the production of denatured alcohol was in opera- 

 tion, under the auspices of the Bureau of Chemistry of this Depart- 

 ment. 



Over half of the entries were in what was known as the Junior 

 Industrial Section. This consisted of exhibits from young people, 

 and included displays of articles made from corn and other grains 



