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Agricultural Education

education in the theory and practice of agriculture has received much attention in the present generation, especially in the last decade. In addition to the regular schools of agriculture maintained by most of the States, all the State colleges and universities and many of the private colleges and universities maintain depart- AGRICULTURE tiquity, and experience has from time to on physical and other science has been time improved the processes adopted and even partially recognized. Now a division the instruments in use; but it was not is made into theoretical and practical till a very recent period that the necessity agriculture, the former investigating the of basing the occupation of the farmer out; and the latter actually doing so in scientific principles on which the culti is mainly derived from subjacent rocks, The soil used for agricultural purposes and the best methods of carrying them practice. a study of the dip and strike of the rocks The soil used for agricultural purposes is mainly derived from subjacent rocks, which cannot be properly understood without some knowledge of geology, while ments for agricultural training. The soil, manures, etc., requires for its detercourses given in these departments in- will also be of use in determining the clude all phases of the agricultural in- most suitable directions for drains and The Association of places for wells. The composition of the dustry and many branches outside this immediate field. ments for agricultural training. The courses given in these departments in- clude all phases of the agricultural in- dustry and many branches outside this immediate field. The Association of periment Stations exercises general su- weather cannot be properly understood pervision over the methods and material without meteorology. The plants cultiof instruction in the United States. vated, the weeds requiring extirpation, Experiment stations are maintained in the fungus growths which often do exmany parts of the continental United tensive and mysterious damage, fall un- States and in the dependencies. Most of der the province of botany; the domestic the State universities and agricultural animals, and the wild mammals, birds colleges also maintain separate experi- and insects which prey on the produce of ment stations and great benefit has rethe field, under that of zoology. The comerly planned or and insects which prey on the produce of the field, under that of zoölogy. The com- plex machines and even the simplest im- plements are constructed upon principles ments carried on. Much of the work is plements are constructed upon principles done in model farms which are main- revealed by natural philosophy; farm tained in connection with the course of buildings cannot be properly instruction. The United States Govern- constructed without a knowledge of arment stations and great benefit has re- sulted from the researches and experi- $

1,500,000 a year divided among the by the student of political economy. Fi- States for the maintenance of experi- nally, farm laborers cannot be governed ments carried on. Much of the work is done in model farms which are main- tained in connection with the course of instruction. The United States Governstations is about 70. Other countries, their superior knows the human heart, especially Great Britain and France, are and acts on the Christian principle of doalso active in promoting agricultural ing to those under him as he would wish States for the maintenance of experiby the war, was taken up with renewed vigor at its close. stations is about 70. Other countries, TOOLS AND MACHINERY,