Evening star., 1896-11-11

twenty-five In mechanical engineering, and
twelve in electrical engineering. Advanced
agriculture, however, Is maintained in few.
Prof. Card of the Nebraska experimental
station presented a long and thorough re-
port on horticulture. He said that there
are in all the agricultural colleges together
over 1000 students of horticulture. Kansas
has 1877; Mississippi. 16D. In all the colleges
but one the study of horticulture is re-
quired Various tests of seeds, plants and
trees were touched on, and the experience
of the station workers with florists and
seedsmen striving to advertise novelties
was described The distribution of seeds
and plants by the stations was deprecated
as an interference with legitimate work.
The New Jersey station, 1t was stated
sends out to farmers on application weed
seed. and has found the practice to be of
advantage, as a warning against obnoxious
plants.
President Murkland of the New Hamp-
shire College presented an elaborate report
on the proper curriculum to be set up by
the agricultural college, the proportion Of
time to be allotted to various studies and
the character of the degrees to be con-
ferred.
Meeting Of the Sections.
The convention divided up yesterday
afternoon into Ave sections and continued
Its work. AT O'Clock the section on agri-
culture and chemistry met at Grand Army
Hall. Prof. c. c. Georseson of Kansas
presiding. Interesting papers We're sub
mitted by H. A. Huston of Indiana ON
chemistry for the technical and practical
agricultural students; E. Davenport Ct lii
nois. on what should be the nature Of an
Implement test; r. J. Redding o. Georgia,
on the extent to which farm machinery
should be tested by experiment stations.
H. j. Waters of Missouri presented a re-
port on the results OF dynamometer tests
on wagons with broad and narrow tires.
1t was found that tires six incnes wide
40 %r~v &C.
the tire Of the usual width Of an inch and
three-quarters H. J. Wheeler of Rhode
Island read paper on recognition Of the
acidity of upland soils al indica ion of
the need of calcium carbo
The section on mechanic arts held
session at the Ebbitt House, Prof. J. w.
Lawrence Of Colorado presiding. Require
ments for the proper government Of an
educational institution was the subject
treated by Edgar Kidwell Of Hopshton.
Mich. and this was followed by some in
structive lecture-room experiments in Iubri-
cation, by Albert KingsDury of Durham,
n. H. With the aid of a working model he
demonstrated some remarkable facts con-
cerning friction and lubrication, which was
followed by u long discussion
The molog.cal section met at the
Department of Agriculture, Chairman Otto
Lugger presiding. Several valuable papers
were presented.
The section on horticulture and botany.
over which Prof. F. W. Card Of Nebraska
presided, assembled AT lHe SOSHOS N>lUD
and listened to some valuable suggestions
from G. +. Stone of Massachusetts en-
physiological botany in agricultural col
leges.
The section on college work met at the
Ebbitt House and presided over by
Chairman A. W. johnson of Wyoming. The
subject under discussion was What Shall
Be Taught in Our Colleges of ASricul-
ture?' Papers were read by G. T: FAR
child of Kansas, H. H. Goodell of Massa-
oh II White of Sfp1ryll, L, -.
Smith of Michigan and II. J. Waters CT
Missouri.
The President. Address.
At 7:3O pm. the convention assembled
in general session to hear :he annual ad-
dress of the president, Samuel w. john
son. director of the Connecticut oAper1-
ment station. He said: I'VE are specially
concerned in two great branches of worthy
endeavor-the promotion of agriculture, by
scientific investigation and experiment, and
the education of those, who are to be en-
gagged in the practice of agriculture, me-
chanic arts, commerce and domsstlc al
fairs The president spoke OF 'he n
crease in interest and usefulness CT the
system, and declared that the experiment
stations of this country we're not less ef-
flcient than those of the old world Nv lille
we may not have made such brllilant dls-
coveries or carried out such extensive fun-
damental Investigations as are associated
with the names of Wolff, julius Kuhn,
Gustav Kuhn, Henneberg and others, we
have made a good beginning ana iaid
some foundation. broad. deep ana endur-
Ing on which fair superstructures are
surely building. Our duty is to aim hlgh'
as high as possible, without overshootlrg
the mark. We cannot succeed win IN
struction that Is too purely disciplinary, De
cause our constituents will not lellsn II,
neither can success be attained ry the
crammng process. The young student ana
parent must be brought to see that pront-
able educ alton depends. first on enlarge
ment Of capacity, and second on increase
of knowledge"
The president discussed seVe"ai tecnnl-
cal parts of his subject, and in closing ad-
vocated a uniform system of puoilcation
of bulletins for all the stations.
Seed Testing.
Gerald Mccartney of the North Carolina
experiment station presented an interesting
paper on seed testing describing the Ger
man method of government scrutiny OF the
seed business, and urging q standard and
official method of seed testing in this
country.
The committee on uniformity in station
nomenclature reported and recommended
provision for a standing committee. whose
duty 1t should be to recpmmend such ac-
tIon as would tend to promote uniformity
and simplicity In the nomenclature used in
state publications. CERTAIN J general rules
were also suggested. The. report was
adopted
President George w. Atherton of Penn
sylvania State College reportsd on the bills
before Congress to maintain courses of in
struction in naval engineering In the scien-
tific and chronological schools. The pur-
pose Is to Increase the number OF engineer
ing officers IN the navy to such an extent
as is required by the recent large Increase
in the number Of steamships of war. The
report was adopted.
Honor to Senator Morrill,.
The report Of the committee on the tes-
timonial to Senator Morrill, was presented.
At the last convention 1t was decided to
have replica of the bust of the Father of
the Agricultural College Act. from which
plaster casts SHOULD be made for each of
the colleges. The marble bust Is now fin
ished. and will be on exhibition at the Cos
mos Club this week, and afterWacd in the
Corcoran Art Gallery, By unanimous vote
the convention invited Senator Morrill, to
attend the deliberations of the convention.
l. was announced that the Cosmos Club had
extended to the members of the conven-
ton all the privileges and courtesies Of the