No. 386.] UNIVERSITY OF THE UNITED STATES. 105 
proposition that such a body as the proposed university should 
be admitted to such privileges is one upon which differences of 
opinion might naturally exist, and which is not discussed in this 
paper. Here I have assumed the affirmative reply to the gen- 
eral question, and merely presented for criticism and discussion 
the outline of a comparatively simple scheme by which the 
proposed relation between such a university and the govern- 
ment laboratories might be carried into effect. That it is prac- 
ticable I am convinced from the experience of former days, 
when the towers of the Smithsonian sheltered a body of mostly — 
impecunious but enthusiastic volunteer students, under the 
supervision of Henry and Baird, almost every one of whom 
in later days became distinguished for services rendered to 
science. 
Should the plan suggested fail to recommend itself to the 
promoters of the new university, it would still be possible for 
any existing institution of learning, or any number of them in 
association, to avail themselves of the undoubted opportunities 
herein pointed out. The formulation of plans to this end would 
be simple and easy. In this connection I may quote a few 
paragraphs from an abstract of the current annual report of the 
Secretary of Agriculture, which has appeared in the daily press 
since the preceding paper was written. 
THE DEPARTMENT AS AN AID TO POST-GRADUATE WorK.! 
Regarding the facilities of the department for post-graduate instruction, 
the secretary says there is no university in the land where the young farmer 
may pursue post-graduate studies in all the sciences relating to production, 
but that the scientific divisions of the Department of Agriculture can to 
some extent provide post-graduate facilities. 
The chiefs of divisions are very proficient in their lines, the apparatus 
the best obtainable, the libraries the most complete of any in the country, 
and the studies of a few bright people could be directed in each division, so 
that when the department requires help, as it often does, the services of 
these young scientists would be available. 
These students should be graduates of agricultural colleges, and should 
come to the department through an examination that would bring the best 
young men. The capacity of the department is limited ; but assistants are 
1 Washington Evening Star, Dec. 2, 1898. 
