EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 519 



special course in horticulture and forestry, which had only a small pa- 

 tronage last year, daily one-hour lectures on these two subjects and the 

 additional subjects of rural engineering and soils were given to all 

 students. This was a good precedent to establish and gave great satis- 

 faction to all, for these industries are really only of minor importance in 

 Iowa. The domestic science registry bespoke 50 present for the two 

 weeks' work along this line. Some of the talks in this department, how- 

 ever, were at times listened to by 200 ladies. The latter branch of the 

 short course is assuming greater interest each year it is offered. 



In many ways it was a cosmopolitan assemblage of farmers and their 

 wives, a truly good representation of Iowa agricultural intelligence and 

 enterprise. A growing number of this class of Iowa people encourage this 

 latest Iowa idea with their presence. 



To show how the influence of the work is spreading and how the gospel 

 of the short course is expanding throughout the state, it is interesting to 

 note that the most prominent and best farmers of the state come back 

 each year with a party or club of their neighbors. These men devote 

 themselves faithfully and earnestly to the work in hand. Men who have 

 amassed fortunes are among this number and they emphatically state that 

 the increased knowledge that they gather enables them not only to direct 

 their work far more profitably, but to add to life's duties a tinge of 

 pleasure. 



The class of men found at the annual short course are of the type 

 which has been responsible for the past development of the farm interests 

 of the state. Engage them in conversation for even a few minutes and 

 it will be discovered that they are the men who stand out as safe, ener- 

 getic and honored citizens, actuated by a desire to help their neighbors 

 as well as themselves. They extend their influence in a modest way in 

 their own communities and as a whole they are of the type of citizens 

 who are constantly striving to leave the world better for their having 

 lived and been a factor in its work. 



An outstanding good collection of live stock and small grains, a practi- 

 cal creamery course and a daily evening program of well known agri- 

 cultural speakers were the attractions which drew the large crowd. The 

 attendance gathered from all parts of the State and was most noteworthy 

 for the large number of young men. This was perhaps due to the com- 

 petition for the Armour and Rosenbaum scholarships, which were com- 

 peted for at the close of the short course by 52 of the young men who 

 were under 21 years of age. A sprinkling of second year students and of 

 graduates of the regular four-year course was also noticed. Several men 

 with degrees from other institutions were present. No matter what the 

 class, condition or age of the short course students, they took great inter- 

 est in studying what had been assembled in Ames for their benefit in the 

 way of winners of America's best show rings and the best grains of the 

 great expositions. Dean Curtiss had arranged a practical course in agri- 

 culture and his efforts were well repaid by a goodly crowd. 



Naturally the greatest emphasis was placed upon live stock and this 

 year the work in judging breeding and feeding was at high tide. Splendid 

 animals were assembled by Professor W. J. Kennedy and as a whole they 

 probably will rank as the best live stock exhibit that ever graced a win- 



