68 
<>n original research and to establish laboratories for practical tests of Imple- 
ments, a museum for farm implements. 
The committee again recommends that the association declare itself in favor 
of the creation of separate departments of agricultural engineering in the 
colleges: that special efforts he made to assist the Secretary of Agriculture in 
his endeavor to extend the work along these lines, and that the executive com- 
mittee use all means in its power to urge upon Congress the importance of this 
work and to convince them of the necessity of giving the Department liberal 
appropriations for these purposes. 
W. E. Stone. Chairman. 
XV. A. Henry, of Wisconsin. I desire to call the attention of educators along 
agricultural lines to the great importance and possibility of agricultural engi- 
neering. In Wisconsin we have begun to develop these lines and have created a 
department. I find a large correspondence from the farmer turning int<> that 
department already, and we find students turning into the department. We have 
two students who have elected farm engineering as their major study. The con- 
struction of our farm buildings, their adaptation to the purposes required, the 
proper uses of machinery, the drainage of lands, are all to he considered. You 
will find. I think, that a department of rural engineering will he a popular one 
in your college. Let us put in agricultural engineering and be in touch with our 
farmers. When a farmer wants to make improvements on his farm he will come 
to the college to get plans, and it should he prepared to furnish them. 1 helieve 
this to he a very practical means of helping our farmers. 
F. M. Tisdel. of Wyoming. I want to state that last year we established at 
the University of Wyoming a four years' course in irrigation engineering, and it 
Is going to he one of the most important and useful courses in the college. 
The report was accepted. 
Animal and Plant Breeding — American Breeders' Association. 
W. M. Hays, chairman of the committee on this suhject, presented the follow- 
ing report : 
Your committee on plant and animal breeding accepted the invitation of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science, and called a meeting 
during convocation week in St. Louis. December 29 and 30. 1903. to organize an 
association. At a meeting of this committee held December 28 a form of consti- 
tution and by-laws was prepared by your committee suggesting a plan of organi- 
zation. Prof. G. F. Curtiss was chosen president and W. M. Hays secretary of 
the preliminary organization. Over fifty were in active attendance ;it the meet- 
ing, and after full consideration and amendment, the proposed articles were 
adopted as the organic law, and an organization was effected under the name of 
the American Breeders' Association. A printed copy of the minutes is submitted 
herewith. 
The plan of organization, like that of the parent organization, consists of a 
general organization and two subordinate organizations, the one devoted to 
plants and the other to animals. 
The following officers were chosen : 
President, Hon. James Wilson. Washington, D. C. ; vice-president. Hon. L. H. 
Kerrick, Bloomington. 111. : secretary. Prof. W. M. Hays. St. Anthony Park. 
M inn. : treasurer, Prof. Oscar Erf. Manhattan. Kans. 
Animal section : Chairman. Hon. John Dryden, Toronto, Canada : secretary. 
Prof. F. B. Mumford, Columbia. Mo. 
Plant section : Chairman. Dr. H. J. Webber. Washington. D. C. ; secretary. 
Prof. X. E. Hansen. Brookings. S. Dak 
This new organization, not having had a meeting since its organization, has 
not yet had the opportunity to appropriately recognize its obligations to the 
parent organization nor its future relations thereto. 
The fees for annual membership are, for North America, $1 ; outside of North 
America. >S2 : life membership. $20, with a twenty-five year limit on the mem- 
bership of societies and libraries: patronships, $1,000. Honorary memberships 
are provided for, and Luther Burbank was given the honor of being the only 
life member chosen at the first meeting. 
