Evening journal., 1901-01-11
HORTICULTURAL
EDUCATION TALK
Prof. BliIey, Of Cornell, Has
distinguished audience
in MiddIetOWR

STAFF Correspondence Evening Journal
Middletown, Jan. 11.-Professor l.. II.
Bailey, Of Cornell University, had a dis
tinguished audience here yesterday when
he addressed the Peninsula Horticultural
Society on horticultural Eduetion."
Both houses Of the Legislature and
Lieutenant-Governor Cannon had come
here to hear him, and they went away
delighted with his address.
Seated on the platform with Professor
Bailey were Lieutenant-Governor Can
non, President pro TEN Of the Senate Ell
lison, Speaker of the House McCommons
and Joseph Il. Carter, president Of the
Horticultural Society. The professor was
introduced by President Carter.
He recalled a previous visit he had
made TO Delaware in 1891 to address a
meeting of the State Farmers Institute,
in Seaford, and humorously described the
session which finally broke up in a family
quarrel over peach yellows.
He said that on his visits to the differ
ent states nowadays he observes gen
eral elevation and tone OF uplift in the
farming communities. There is more in
telligence abroad. greater interest and en-
thusasm in agricultural work. All this
is brought about by an agricultural edu-
cation, he coniended. Notwithstanding
the statements Of stump speakers, the
daily press and magazines that agricult-
ure is on a decline. is afflicted with an in
curahle disease. This education is not
school education specifically but q general
broadening of information through exper-
ment station bulletins, agricultural pa
pers, etc. He recalled that few years
ago education was for the few. The great
trend since the day of the father OF edu
cation TO the present day has been to Civ,
| education TO The people. Now ii is moi
arstocratic it is democratic
Professor Bailey traced education pro-
gress in the world, linking with it the
steady. broadening desire to attain and
to disseminate knowledge pertaining tC
agriculture and horticulture George
| Washington. he said, had much 10 do il
improving the condition of the farming
/ classes. In the present day the speaker
said something is needed to stand be
tween the agricultural colleges and the
people to iill in the gap existing betweel
the two The university extension idea
he thought, would meet this condition
1 Nearly every college in the country to-dal
IS taking up this missionary spirit. 1t IL
in Delaware to-day, Professor Bale!
said, referring to the plan Of Professo
Neae and other attaches Of the Della
ware Experiment Station in lecturing OF
/ agricultural subjects and issuing valua
bic information pertaining to that pur
suit for the benefit Of the men following
it. In this country any man who writes
to an experiment station gets a bulletin
The worse the postal card is spelled tn,
sooner the writer will get the bulletin
| The time has come for definite specific
! Information in agricultural education. II
many states one-half the people ar'
/ farmers.
The speaker answered a question whicl
he said is asked daily OF Cornell Univer
sity: "Would it be advisable for cit!
children to go on the farmT
I'VE generally reply, If you are goini
with the desire Of getting rich, don't go
In the city you have lost your individual
ity, you are part OF a social machine. Blu
if you want to be your own boss, if yol
want TO speak your own opinions. go Il
the farm-if your wife is willing"
In conclusion DR. Bailey unfolded
plan now being followed in other state
to provide for horticultural education il
some form in the public schools Of tn
rural districts. This excited interest am
enthusiasm in nature study.
The Legislature may be asked to pro
/ vide for the use Of text books on horti
culture in rural public schools.