Show mac r in th agricultural colleges and schools washington may 8 W 0 atwater in charge of the work at the experiment stations established by the agricultural department is preparing a bulletin which will bo published this year giving a sketch of the progress of education in the agricultural colleges and schools it is the purpose for which the agricultural colleges were established in the several states and to which the government contributed by liberal grants of land and money has not been realized the colleges do not educate men for the farms but for the professions the tendency of their teachings has been to draw young men from the farms instead of fitting them for work on them the curriculum in most cases is too expensive for ibe average farmers son to meet the consequence is that the class for whom colleges were assigned have received almost absolutely no benefit from their existence in connection with this matter it is at the state university of minnesota agricultural school which was opened last fall the course of study comprises two years of twenty four weeks each graduates of the common district schools of the state ara taught affe practical things of farm life in addition to th literary branches of learning the school had been opened ant a few weeks aheu its accommodations had all been taken while the agricultural college croper has been struggling along for existence for years with barely enough students to form a single class at the indian and colored schools at hampton va supported by the government ern ment the course of agricultural instruction is pursued more closely and nearly one hundred pupils are engaged in the experiment of the department which anro located at all of these schools and because of tho great practical benefit accruing tho bulletin will strongly advocate an extension of the system secretary rusk is also deeply interested in tho establishment of short winter of lectures to young men on farms upon topics relating to the successful conduct of their labors |