Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-17
EXPERTS IN SESSION
Seventeenth Annual Conven-
ton Of Agriculturists.
THE OPENING SESSION
REPRESENTATIVES, OF COLLEGES
AND EXPERIMENT STATIONS.
Reports Of Committees Read-Respects
Paid to President Roosevelt
Meetings Of Sections.

Agricultural experts from almost every
state in the Union assembled in the ban
quet hall Of the Shoreham Hotel this morn
ing to attend the opening meeting of the
seventeenth annual convention of the AS
ISOLATION OF American Agricultural Colleges
and Experiment stations. The meeting was
called to order at 10 o'clock by President
James K. Patterson of Kentucky and
prayer was offered by Rev. DR.. Buckham
of Vermont. The association numbers
among its members a majority OF the we'll
known opponents OF the science OF agricul-
ture In this country. It meets in various
sections OF the Union each year Its pur.
poses are to bring together the teachers or
agriculture in order that they may dis
cuss the new and approved methods OF
placing the science of which 1t is one or the
leading exponents; to present to the assem-
bled experts the results of experiments
carried on during the year, to encourage
the study of the science of agriculture; TO
aid the department of agriculture In the
dissemination of the information 1t has OBJ
tanned by experiments and to supplement
the departments experiments by personal
investigation along the same lines: TO IN
crease the facilities for the proper STUDY
of the particular branches Of science tt be-
lives tO be related to agriculture. assum-
ing responsibility, for such increase on re-
ceipt Of the means for carrying out ITS
plans.
THESE things and many more are regard
ed as the primary objects, but many other
matters are taken up.
The class of men gathered IN convention
at the meetings of the association includes
those who have been selected by the gov.
eminent, both national and state. to direct
the work at the experiment stations main
tanned from public funds; the men who
are at the head of the agricultural colleges
throughout the country and the men who
have devoted their lives to the study OF
agriculture in all it's branches.
The Opening Business.
The first business of the meeting this
morning was the calling of the roll The
responses showed full attendance. The
report of the executive committee was then
read by the chairman of the commktee,
Mr.. II. c. White of Athens, Ga. One of the
principal features of the report was the
reference to the Cecil Rhodes scholarship.
Mr.. White has had considerable CORE
spondence on this subject, and announced
that the trustees of the Rhodes fund had
assured him that the peculiar status OF the
agricultural colleges and experiment sta
tons would have no effect on the Rhodes
scholarship, and that all students would
be given an equal chance.
The financial report was read by Mr..
E. 3. voorhees,, the Secretary-treasurer. The
report showed the treasury to be In eX-
cellent condition. The report was accepted.
and, on motion, turned over to an auditing
committee of three for examination. Prof.
A. c. True, rirtendent of experimental
stations of the Department of Agriculture,
read the report of the photographer Mr..
E. r. Nichols chairman of the section of
college work. announced that the section
of which he was the head would meet this
afternoon at o'clock at the Shoreham
Hotel. similar announcement was made
by Prof. c. G. Hopkins chairman Of the
section on agriculture and chemistry.
The chairman of the section on. horti-
culture and history, and the section ON
entomology had no report to make.
Prof. True made a short address on the
farmers Institutes and their relation to
the Department of Agriculture. The farm
ers' institute Is regarded as one of the
NEST important features of the work in
behalf of agriculture in this country. Up
to very short time ago the institutes were
being operated by the various states. The
department desires to build up this. work.
and has had a small appropriation from
Congress to assist the Institutes in their
work.
Work Of the Colleges.
The agricultural colleges and experiment
stations have had much to do with the pro-
motion of the institutes. The burden has
been very heavy on the colleges and sta
lions, however, and the department is seek
ing to relieve them. The department be-
lieves. said Prof. True, that the pro-
fessors and teachers employed in the col
leges should devote themselves as much as
possible to their colleges, and not to bur-
den themselves with SO much outside work.
To accomplish this end the department is
arranging to send its own experts out
among the farmers Institutes to give such
aid they can.
Prof. True said the greatness and i'm
portance of the farmers institute cannot be
overestimated. The meetings are held an
nually in almost every county In the United
States and are attended by at least 100000
men engaged in the business of agriculture.
The work of the institutes is such that 1t
will bring up new generation of men
who are thoroughly equipped to carry on
10 nj "a prt
Mr. Davengratt of Illinois then intro
duced a resolution urging the executive
committee to increase its efforts to secure
the passage by Congress of the mining
school bill. The resolution was referred to
the executive committee.
Reports Of Committees.
The regular program of business being
exhausted at this juncture, the reports of
standing committees set for tomorrow
were taken up. beginning with the report
of the committee on indexing agricultural
literature. by Prof. A. C. True, chairman
the University of Nebraska suggested that
the Department of Agriculture, through
the bureau of experiment stations, be re-
quested to publish the report of Prof. True
Immediately
report on the uniformity of state fer
tilizer laws was then read by Dr. H. J.
Wheeler, chairman of the committee having
the matter in charge.
Patterson was appointed to wait on Presi- |
dent Roosevelt and pay the respects of the |
convention. The committee includes
Messrs Goodell of Massachusetts, White of |
Georgia. Liggett of Minnesota and Thomp-
son of Ohio
Subsequent Meetings.
The convention will meet tonight to hear
the annual address of the president This |
afternoon section meetings will be held In |
the several rooms at the hotel engaged for |
the purpose, as follows.
p. m.-Meetings of sections on agricul- |
ture and chemistry. entomology and me- |
chanic arts.
A p m.-Meetings of sections on college |
work and horticulture and botany.
p. m.-General session. Miscellaneous |
business.
The program for tomorrow includes:
D a.m.-General session. Memorial adj |
dresses by President w. LIE Roy Broun of |
Alabama. by President p. H. Nell of Glenn
son College. South Carolina: by President |
w. M. Beardshear of Iowa, and by |
James Wilson. Secretary of Agriculture. |
Report of committee on collective college
and station exhibit at st. Louis exposition |
CIV. H. Jordan, chairman); discussion. Re-
ports of standing committees on dssigna-
tiOn of SubSt atoms and trial stations wv. /