52 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 



tion work. Some carefully compiled statistics made just prior to the 

 war revealed the fact that over 85 per cent of the graduates at that 

 time were following agriculture directly or were engaged in some 

 phase of agricultural work. 



SOME OF THE GUIDING INFLUENCES 



The College of Agriculture engages in three distinct lines of 

 work: (1) the regular teaching in college courses of the students 

 who come here; (2) the investigation of and research into agricul- 

 tural problems; (3) extension work. It is not the purpose of this 

 paper to dwell in detail upon any particular phase of this service, but 

 to touch in a general way upon some of the fundamental things which 

 have guided the policy of the institution. Perhaps it may be said in 

 passing that there was a time in the early history when, but for wise 

 direction, the funds available for agricultural education would have 

 been diverted ; and instead of there being instruction of University 

 standard, there would have been simply short-course work or high 

 school agricultural courses offered. 



While closely related to the Experiment Station, yet we consider 

 that one of the most fundamental policies attempted in the College as 

 well as in the Station is a system which is unique at Illinois, namely, 

 that of having an advisory committee relationship for each of the de- 

 partments, some three to five representative citizens being invited to 

 act in an advisory capacity with the department whose interests they 

 especially represent. These men are conversant with the practical 

 problems which confront them, upon which they especially desire in- 

 formation. They act as a balance, representing the interests of the 

 practical man as against the man whose thoughts and interests lie more 

 in science and theory. This relationship has been a most happy and 

 profitable one, and it probably has done more toward fostering the 

 close personal interest of the citizens in the work of the College than 

 has any other one thing. 



Another most valuable asset has been what is known as the Corn 

 Growers' and Stockmen's Convention, or two weeks course in Ag- 

 riculture, which has met annually at the University for the past 

 twenty-one years. Several hundred young men and farmers have at- 

 tended this meeting and have received inspiration and incentive and 

 an insight into the work of the institution which otherwise could not 

 have been attained. In this respect again Illinois has been a pioneer. 



As these movements for agricultural education were undertaken, 

 they made a profound impression ; citizens welcomed this type of ed- 



