CONVENTION OF AMERICAN AGRI01 LT1 RAL COLLEGES. 



indexing scientific periodicals relating bo agricultural investigations 

 and tlir preparation of cards which are printed by the Library of 

 Congress. Thus far about 7,000 cards have been issued. At pres 

 cut there arc only 1<> subscribers for the complete sets and 1 1 for 

 partial sets, and the question has arisen whether it is worth while t" 

 continue this work. It was pointed out that at least :'..", subscribers 

 for the complete index would he required t<> warrant it- continuation. 

 The undertaking was originally authorized by the association, and the 

 members were therefore urged to investigate the character of the 

 index to determine whether or not it should receive their future 

 support. 



'Idie committee on rural engineering reported through Dr. W. E. 

 Stone, chairman, that progress had been made in strengthening the 

 courses in this subject at several institutions, hut that sufficient impor 

 tance had not been attached to this subject t<> id\ e it a coordinate place 

 with such subjects as horticulture, animal husbandry, agronomy, etc. 

 It was believed that the best work could not he accomplished until 

 this is done. The work of this Office in testing pumps, windmills, 

 etc. was thought to bo of material benefit to professors of rural engi 

 neering, as was also the work in irrigation and drainage. The com 

 mittee believed there was need for a few institution- in the country t<> 

 establish courses in rural engineering, and that that department should 

 be of coordinate rank with such departments as agronomy, animal 

 husbandry, etc. 



Resolutions were passed indorsing the work of this Office alone- the 

 lines of agricultural education, and also of irrigation and rural 

 engineering. 



Assistant Secretary W. M. Hays, for the committee on animal and 

 plant breeding, reported the growth of the American Breeders' A.sso 

 ciation to an organization of about six hundred members, and the suc- 

 cessful annual meeting held at Champaign, III., in February last. This 

 committee was discharged, a- it has accomplished the purpose for 

 which it was organized. 



The establishment of institutions for teaching and research work in 

 forestry in connection with the land-grant institution- was discussed 

 by Prof. S. B. Green, who introduced a resolution looking to national 

 aid, and by Gifford. Pinchot, of the Forest Service. A- the associa- 

 tion had decided to confine its efforts toward Legislation as pre^ iousTj 

 indicated, the resolution was laid upon the table. 



President K. L. Buttertield offered a resolution instructing the 

 executive committee to take steps to secure, if possible, the establish 

 ment of a department of rural agricultural education in the National 

 Educational Association. The resolution was adopted. Hon. W. T. 

 Harris. Commissioner of Education, made a brief address in which he 

 expressed the view that agricultural education should be considered 



