The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-12
WILSON WORKS FOR
 MORE PUBLICITY Department of Agriculture Sending Out Literature TO INTEREST FARMER Through a Series of Practical Demon strations Conducted at Central
 Stations and Through
 Various Lectures
TO INTEREST FARMER
By SIDNEY EsPEY


 Washington. March 11.-(special)-For the purpose of stimulating a more wide spread interest in the study of agrieul- ture throughout the United States among the farming population and in the vari- ous colleges Secretary of Agriculture James S. Wilson has begun campaign of publicity. Already the department has sent out great deal of literature bearing on the subject In a general way. It's efforts in the future will be con centrated so as to actively interest the farmers through a series of practical demonstrations, conducted at central sta tions Lectures at the various colleges will also be given at certain times Tn the year, to which all those interested In farming will be invited.
 At present the American system Of agricultural education has been highly developed. It includes a number of lis- ferent classes of institutions, which, talk en together, provide all grades of in struction from graduate courses leading to the doctors degrees, to nature study courses in the kindergartens and pr- mary schools. These institutions include departments of original research, and graduate study In agriculture, agricul- tural colleges. secondary and elementary instruction. The secondary and element ary instruction is of comparatively re- cent development, but 1t Is becoming an important factor in American agricultural education. The graduate and collegiate courses, on the other hand, are we'll es- tabished, and take rank with the best s.x I1~- universities and colleges in Europe. The in agriculture are brought together to constitute national system of higher ed
 ucation in the sciences and industries through the Association of American
 Agricultural colleges and experiment stations. the office of experiment sta tions of the department of agriculture and the bureau of education department of the interior.
 At the head of the system of agricul- tural education stands the United States department of agriculture, and the agfi- cultural experiment stations in the diff ferent states and territories. Organized primarily with a reference to research both the department and the stations, to g considerable extent, directly promote agricultural education, in the technica sense. by giving instructions to students
 This Is done by opening their laboratories to assistants who participate in research
 work while continuing their studies oi by imparting new inspiration and knowl edge to students through residence a the institutions where it is being con ducted.
 The work of the department of agricul | ture along educational lines Is rapidly in creasing. Not only does it continue ft | open it's laboratories and libraries to of | ficers of the agricultural colleges an' | experiment stations who come here t carry on special investigations, but 1t different bureaus, offices and divisions ar | doing much to encourage all phases o agricultural education throughout tn country. r
 The weather bureau is taking activ, part in public education along meteoro logical lines. The bureau of plant indus try is aiding the school garden movemen by distributing to large number o schools special packages of vegetable
 and flower seeds, together with circn
 lars containing directions for the plant ing and care of school gardens, and b, cooperating with other agencies in con
 ducting experimental school gardens. Tht forest service is reaching many educa
 tors with literature. lantern slides and
 other illustrative material concerning the conservation of the forest resources or the country, ana the OHlce 4OI puDllt roads is training road engineers.
 The office of experiment stations, how ever, is the general agency of the de partment of agriculture in the promotion of agricultural education. The work is organized into two branches; one deal ing with agricultural colleges and schools and the other with farmers institute. and other forms of extension work IT agriculture. Tn relation to the work ol the farmers institutes, the office col lects data respecting the condition ant progress of farmers institutes in tho United States and Europe, prepares lee ture courses of study for movable schools of agriculture, conducts correspondents with persons interested in agriculture education, visits educational institutions lectures before representative farmers assemblies, assists In forming movable schools and acts as clearing house 1T securing speakers from the department O agriculture.
 Graduate work in agriculture has beer offered by some of the agricultural col leges for many years. but In the las few years, as result of the rapid devel opment in the science, the character q graduate work has improved and fht number of institutions offering graduate
 courses in agriculture has greatly in creased. A large number of land gran institutions now maintain SEduudls schools, and there are 41 colleges whicf provide agricultural work leading to thu masters degree, and ten offering course; leading to the doctors degree.
 From a recent enumeration by the dc partment of agriculture, 67 colleges were found to be organized under the acts oi Congress of July 2. 1862; August 30, l8so and March {, 1907, by which government aid Is extended to colleges. In Is states separate institutions are maintained J Jal white and colored students, and in 15 oi these courses in agriculture are main tained The only purely agricultural col lege in the United States, however, if that In Massachusetts.
 The aggregate value of the perna nen1 funds and equipment of the land grants colleges and universities in 1910 was $f2,- 664.0s9: farms and ground owned by in" stitutions, $l513619S; buildings, S3S 3S9. 2S aparatus Ss,553,sse: machinery, $2,8oS.690; libraries s4,136 739; live stock, s4b2.246; mis- cellaneous equipment S65S,71s; making a grand total of 111,Ss2.6S7 The income of three institutions exclusive of the funds received from the United States totaled $1s.082,S54.
 The faculties of the land grant insti- tutions aggregated 5755 persons, and stu dents membership last year was 67,227 of which 65S6 were colored.
 TO this total must be added short term students. such as farmers, farm tenants and others interested in the work and a large percentage of school childre> who are engaged for portion of each