12 BULLETIN 83, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the ground during most of the continuation of the school as an 

 observer to see the character of the work and to note such defects 

 in its operation as might occur. 



After witnessing the progress of the classes for three consecutive 

 weeks this officer reports that the experiment up to that time was 

 successful in every respect. The lay leaders were fully able to 

 oversee the work. The members of the classes were thoroughly 

 interested in the reading and practice exercises. The weekly written 

 examination as reviewed by college experts showed that the students 

 comprehended what they had studied, although some had difficulty 

 in expressing their thoughts clearly in writing owing to their lack 

 of training in this direction, The oral examinations, however, were 

 uniformly good and the attendance was prompt and satisfactory. 



AID TO AGRICULTURE BY TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES. 



During the year data were collected from railroad presidents and 

 industrial agents in the United States regarding the character of the 

 extension work in agriculture pursued by the roads, viz: (1) Infor- 

 mation giving, (2) aid in marketing products, (3) soil improvement, 

 (4) demonstration work, (5) organizing agricultural associations, (6) 

 operating agricultural instruction trains, (7) other activities, and (8) 

 results accomplished. 



Returns were received from 57 roads. The mileage represented by 

 these roads was 152,492, or 61 per cent of the mileage of the railroads 

 of the United States operated in 1912. Thirty companies have 

 industrial departments giving special attention to the development 

 of agriculture and employ 144 men in this service. One road reports 

 a force of 45 experts in the employ of the company during the entire 

 year, giving attention to the development of agricultural extension 

 and demonstration work. 



Twelve railroad companies each conducted one or more demon- 

 stration farms. One has demonstration plats on 133 farms and 

 another conducts 16 farms for demonstration purposes and still 

 another cooperates with 400 farmers in demonstration work. One 

 company furnishes land to farmers for use as demonstration plats. 

 One road reports having organized a farm improvement department 

 consisting of a manager, three assistant managers, and 29 field 

 agents. There is a dairy agent with 7 assistants, and a car fitted up 

 as a model farm dairy at their disposal. There is also a five stock 

 agent with three assistants, and four market agents. 



Of the 57 companies reporting, 41 give particulars respecting their 

 work in the dissemination of information, 29 with respect to market- 

 ing, 26 on soil improvement, 22 on demonstration work, 17 in organ- 

 izing agricultural associations, 41 in operating agricultural instruction 

 trains, 28 enumerate other extension activities not embraced by the 



