12 BULLETIN" 83, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE 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. 
Eeturns 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 live 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 
