River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-12-18


strongly equipped and vigorous expert
ment station; the second, by FIVE cour-
ses of study in agriculture; the third
10y an ample system of publication and
by Farmers Institutes.
|. The heart and soul of the system
is the Experiment Station, where prin-
ciples and practice are tested, new
facts demonstrated, and old doctrines
developed into exact knowledge. This
gives a solid foundation for the work
of the other lines and vitaliZes the
whole. The effectiveness of agricul-
tural education is largely dependent
ON the amount of fresh, well-tested
knowledge which enters into it.
Ill. The Institutional system en-
braces five courses in agriculture
l. a Short Course.
.. A Dairy Course.
3. A Middle Course.
4. A Long Course.
5. A Graduate Course.
The Short Course is intended TO give
the greatest practicable amount of
knowledge Immediately applicable to
farming, in the least time, and at the
smallest expense, especially in the
lines of feeds and feeding, breeds and
breeding, agricultural chemistry. agri-
cultural physics, horticulture, econo.
mic entomology, veterinary science
and practical mechanics. No entrance
examination is required, and it is
therefore open to all of sufficiently
mature age Q6 years.. 1t thus pro-
vides an intensely practical course for
practically everybody.
The Dairy Course (the first estab-
lished in the United States) is intend
ed to give thoroughly scientific, and
at the same time practical, course of
instruction on the nature of dairy pro-
ducts, ON the methods of testing them
and on the practical operations of
butter making and cheese making.
The Middle Course is intended to
give fuller instruction and training in
the above subjects and also in the
sciences that underlie and enter into
agricultural operations. This course
will have two phases, the one adapted
to those who can carry their studies
no further, the other to those who
wish to take up the Long Course and
broaden their education, and attain a
college degree, or become agricultural
experts. The Middle Course requires
for admission good knowledge of all
the subjects taught in the standard
rural schools, and thereby forms con.
Meeting link between the country
schools and the higher agricultural
courses. This connecting link consti
tutes very important factor in the
state educational system, since il
makes it now possible for the country
youth to go direct from his home
school into a series of agricultural
courses that lead him on to as broad
and liberal a culture as his time and
means and disposition will permit.
The Long Course embraces an ex.
tended training in the sciences, &C.
companied by considerable portion
of mathematics, language, and other
collegiate branches, together with a
more thorough and scientific mastery
of agriculture. 1t takes rank as a
college course and leads to the degree
of b. Ayr. 1t is one of the strongest
and highest courses in the country.
The Graduate Course offers to those
who have completed the Long Course
opportunities for original investiga.
ton and for technical training as agri-
cultural experts. 1t is intended for
those who wish to become professional
agriculturists in the highest sense of
the term.
Ill. Besides providing this ample
series of courses of study for the
farmeT-youth, the Wisconsin system
recognizes that there is great farm
ing community that may also be bene-
fitted by agricultural science dissent
mated through its agency; and provides
two ways of accomplishing this; the
first. by direct communication be-
tween the agricultural college and the
farmers, and the second, through the
Farmers Institutes.
The first is accomplished chiefly
through the publications of the sta
ton, which consist of an annual re.
port, of which 1900 copies are pub
lished. and of four or more bulletins
issued during each year, of which
10000 copies each are printed. These
are sent free to those who ask for
them. Much also is done through ag-
rlcultural papers. through correspond.
ence, and through tests and special
investigations made in answer TO
special questions and to meet special
needs.
The Farmers Institutes, of which
sixty TO seventy-five are held each
year in as many different localities in
the state. afford means of present.
ing directly to the farmer the latest
developments of experience and ex-
Fermentation and of discussing all
subjects pertaining to agriculture.
The Institutes have now become so
well known that full description is
unnecessary.
1t thus appears that the Wisconsin
system now covers, in some sense, the
whole ground. The youth who wants
agricultural schooling can find in the
series of courses offered, some one
suited to his needs and to the time