The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-04
MAKING OF FARMERs.

MAKING OF FARMERS.
It is to be hoped that the new profess
scr of agriculture who has just been
elected by the regents of the State Ag-
ricultural college will be a man who will
do things" Kansas is ready to sup
port an agricultural college that teaches
practical agriculture and that will do
work which is of practical benefit to the
Kansas farmer. and while little is known
of Prof. Ten Eyck, who succeeds to
Prof Cottrelrs place, those who are
anxious that the Manhattan school shall
accomplish things for the agricultural
interests of the state are hoping that he
may prove the man for the place.
A man like Hays of Minnesota or
Shamel Of Illinois or Henry of WILSON,
sin would be worth millions of dollars to
the farmers Of Kansas in a few years.
Agriculture is on the eve of a revolu-
ton. 1t will be brought about by the
men at the head of the agricultural col
leges and experiment stations. Each
one is experimenting on those things
which are of special interest to his par
ticular state. OF course Kansas gets the
benefit of these things in secondary
way. but she needs men of her own to
go forward with work OF this character.
Prof. Cottren accomplished much for the
beef-producing interests of the state by
his experiments in cattle feeding, but
he was hampered in his work, was ex-
pected to do the work of several men,
was underpaid, and as a consequence he
went elsewhere.
1t is undoubtedly a fact that the
founders of the state educational insti-
tutions made a great mistake in not
locating them all in one place under a
single board of regents and with a
single chancellor at the head. The nor
NAL school and college of agriculture
should have been departments of the
state university, coordinate with the
college of liberal arts and other depart
ments. Each would have had its own
faculty, but all would have been under
a common head. It would have been
great economy for the state and better
training could have been given the stu
dents. The department of science that
is necessary for the college of liberal
arts would also have answered for the
college of agriculture and the normal
school Only one library, one gymna-
SUM and one heating plant would have
been required. There would have been
a great saving in buildings and in sal
aries.
But different towns insisted on having
a state institution and the politicians
had to satisfy them. so the schools were
separated and scattered.
Now the State Agricultural college is
trying to overlap the work of the State
University. Agriculture, which should
by all means be the big thing in the
school, is made a secondary matter.
There has been only one professor in
this department with some assistants,
while other chairs have been named
after the manner of a university. In
fact agriculture has been only minor
department.
1t is to be hoped that these conditions
will be changed in the future and that
Mr.. Ten Eyck will be given more en-
cOuragement in his work than was Prof.
Cottrell. The new professor has been
an assistant in the North Dakota col
lege, and he comes well recommended.
1t is to be hoped that he will be able 10
accomplish great things for the Kansas
farmer in connection with the Manhat-
tan experiment station and may Undue
his students with enthusiasm in their
work. The most successful farmer of
the future win be the one who is edu-
Gated in farming. The day of hap-haz-
ard farming is past. The coming farm
er needs education in his work the same
as the scientist needs to learn science
or the business man needs to learn bus
mess methods.