Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-03-17

The cut shown below is that of the
new county school building erected last
summer on the west side, in which are
located departments for instruction in
agriculture and domestic economy,
and also for the training of teachers.
The teachers training department has
been covered by this paper so thor
oughly in the past that we will let it
pass this time without special mention.
The Marathon County School of Agri-
culture and Domestic Economy has just
issued a thirty five page catalogue of the
school, known as Bulletin No. l, Vol. l,
setting forth information advantageous
of the schools interests This school is
one of two of like character in the state
although we believe an effort is being
made to provide for the establishment
of several more, and when one has been
established in every county wonder
full change will be worked in the
methods of farming, as differential
from the old methods as is light to
darkness.
Agriculture is one of the Oldest of the
arts. Primitive man, emerging from a
savage state, became a nomadic wan
derer possessed of hocks and herds.
The inclemency of the weather i'm
pressed upon him the truth that for the
preservation of his cattle he must cult
vate the necessary grasses and roots,
and store them. Thus he settled down
by river banks and on fertile soil, and
with rude implements began his allotted
toll. He found that certain plants pro-
duced seeds. which if imbedded in the
soil at proper tines, brought forth an
hundred fold Soon he learned to dis
tinguish the seasons for planting, the
necessity for tillage and the application
of moisture in dry summers, and thus
he became farmer. The pillow formed
of the forks of tree, and drawn
through the earth by oxen, with harness
of the crudest character, was probably
the hrst implement used in agriculture;
the seed was sown broadcast, and the
reaping may have been done with
knives of flint Methods of carrying on
agriculture, however, were improved
little by little until the Pharaohs en-
tered the Valley OF the Nile when they
placed that valley under a tillage equal
to hop gardens of Kent or the vineyards
of France of today. The early settlers
of the United States landed in part of
the country not as favorable to the de
velopment of agriculture as is Marathon
county today, and were confronted
with many difficulties. But they
pressed forth into the wilderness and
came into possession of more fertile
lands, and under the influence of kind
lier skies their progress became more
rapid. Now the United States stands
pre-eminent above all nations in the
magnitude of its agricultural develop
ment and is the granary of the world.
Notwithstanding the acquisition of
improved machinery aud improved
methods, thousands IF farmers are still
farming today as did their fathers be-
before them They have fell into rut
from which to them il seems impossible
to extricate themselves Sumo are born
on farm, live on a farm during heir
lives, die on farm aud " bat have they
accomplished They have secured
living, with u life full Of hardships. AID
that is all They go through the same
routine year after year until death over
takes them 1t is to obliter&te these
conditions and bring about new in
ineuces thai agricultaFsi SCHOOLS are
established II new methods cannot BE-
brought to bear on the older class. The
growing generation can be benefited
by them.
The idea that all the necessary re-
quirements for farming is to SOW and
to reap Is a mistaken one. and the
student Of this school is taught princi-
pies which will increase the productive
ness Of his farm, methods for the caring
and saving Of crops. representatives. for
diseases in stock aud scourges in crops,
how TO repair his implements, draw
plans for his buildings and figure their
cost, how to figure his income, and
economic to meet conditions. how to
select seeds and Judge his cattle, how