Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-09-14
lack FARM TEACHING
L..tary Wilson Points Out One of the
Needs of M0deran Schools.

the agricultural department. We
cannot find them, hence we have had
to educate them. The department is
now university, where We are giving
a post graduate course to as many
graduates of agricultural colleges as
We can accommodate in the practical
side of the science of husbandry. SC
as to send them out to teach others.
For example, since | came into the de-
partmen. at the time William Mckin-
lay was inaugurated pres ident, seven
years ago, fourteen Universities and
colleges have applied to ME for in
stiUetCrs in meteorology. 1t Was I'M
possible to find the men, hence we
selected the most suitable persons
upon the staff Of the weather bureau
anu detailed them as observers al
the toNns in which the colleges are
located so that they could perform
their regular duties and lecture to
the students in their leisure hours.
1t is gratifying to know that this
plan has been successful, and that the
institutions are perfectly satisfied
with the arrangement. The farmer
Should know about the atmosphere,
and the study of climatology is just
as important for him as any other
branch of agricultural learning
"NeXt in importance is the study Of
the soil-its composition. its chemlS-
try its adaptation to different crops
1t is not necessary to bring evidence
TO prove how important it is for a
farmer TO know what kind Of soil will
produce the best crops Of grain and
what kind is best suited for potatoes.
The chemistry of the soil is taught III
the agricultural colleges, but every
child ought to know, every farmers S
boy ought TO know how one kind Of
soil differs from another, and for What
sort Of plant life each kind is most
hospitable That can be taught in
the common schools, just as well as
geography, or arithmetic, and it has
direct practical value; but the teach
ers are wanting We have admirable
common schools in all our states. We
have technical schools, and more are
being organized to train the coming
generation in all the lines of human
activity, except farming, and there is
where we are weakest.
"In order to educate teachers to in
struct the people in this respect we
have built UP in the department OF
agriculture bureau of hundred
men. who are now engaged in half
the states studying the soils and their
capacities and making reports to the
department. These young men Will
make excellent teachers, and we soon
can detail them to the institutions that
want instructors.
Next in importance are the domes,
tic animals.' continued the secretary
I'VE sell $3.50, 100000 worth OF beer,
mutton and other meats to foreign
| countries every year. and yet we nave
never created a new breed of animals
except race horses and fat hogs. we
take English and Scotch cattle and
sheep and put them on our pastures
neayy and light highland and low
land. north and south, without regard
10 their condition Or requirements
while we should be studying to dis
cover which are the most suitable tor
particular breed Of animals, Whlcf
nastures will make the best beef OF
the best milk, so that we may derive
the greatest degree Of profit from oui
animal husbandry.
eve sell over 100000 600 worth OF
plant products to foreign countries
and we import more than s400,oo0,ooV
worth of plant products every year
which we do not raise in our own ter
ritory. That makes a thousand mil
lion dollars annually as the value OF
our interest in plant products, and yet
botany is studied in very few OF oul
schools. Every boy and every CIR
should know what these plants are
and how they can be cultivated WITH
the greatest profit and the greatest
economy. They should be trained te