HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 3875 
Mr. Burtrson. What possible benefit would it be to the farmer to 
issue a bulletin on the evolution of the plow, commencing with the 
first one and bringing it up to a 4-disk harrow? What possible bene- 
fit would it be? 
Doctor Truz. A bulletin of that kind would not he so much for pop- 
ular distribution as to give the material which would form the basis for 
the work of the teachers and educators in the agricultural colleges and 
experiment stations. Of course that is what the Department is con- 
stantly doing. We are investigating that subject and issuing technical 
bulletins, which we distribute only in small editions in order that they 
may be the basis for work the results of which will reach out further, 
but beyond that we would make and encourage the experiment stations 
to make laboratory and practical tests involving the study of the prin- 
ciples of construction and methods of operation of farm implements 
and machinery, with special reference to their efficiency and economy. 
That work is, as I said, already begun in some of our larger agricul- 
tural institutions, notably in the States of Illinois, Minnesota, Wis- 
consin, and Iowa, and they are appealing to us to enter upon this work 
so as to furnish them with the information which is necessary for them 
to succcessfully maintain these courses of instruction, and also to 
investigate further the problems that are brought to their attention. 
Mr. Scorr. If they have already begun this work, why can they not 
dig out that information themselves? 
Docter True. Well, for the same reason that they can not do the other 
work that the Department of Agriculture is doing. Here is the propo- 
sition in Wisconsin, taking a concrete illustration. The legislature of 
Wisconsin has given the college of agriculture an appropriation of 
$15,000 to put up a farm engineering building.’ They have employed, 
also with an appropriation from the legislature, a professor of farm 
engineering. That is as far as at present they feel able to go. 
Mr. Scorr. And that professor of farm engineering wants you to 
furnish him with information to conduct his department, does he? 
Doctor Trur. Yes; he wants us to help him to put the work ona 
good basis. 
Mr. Scorr. It rather seems to me that if he is a professor of farm 
engineering and qualified for the position, he ought to be able to con- 
duct that work himself. 
Doctor Trur. You must understand this, that this is a new line of 
work in this country, and what the colleges have to do practically, in 
employing teachers along that line, is to take men who have been 
trained in engineering in our engineering schools and then to set them 
to work to study these special topics which relate to the farm. 
Mr. Scorr. And it is precisely because this has been done in the 
State of Wisconsin that it occurred to me unnecessary to undertake it 
here. 
Doctor Trur. But the State of Wisconsin can only do a little part 
of what needs to be done. That is, the situation in that direction is 
just what it is in other directions in which the Department of Agri- 
culture is working. ; 
Mr. Haucen. What is the object sought? Is it to determine the 
relative value of the different machines and how to construct imple- 
ments? 
Doctor Trur. Both of those objects; that is, to determine whether 
