The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-01-05

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plete unity! Only by respecting these
limitations can jealousies and unseen-
ly strife be forestalled.
A TOUCH OF HUMAN NATURE.
Speaking again for the Agricultural
College can but realize that ii either
one OF our two subjects were taken
from US, or il we we're restrained from
doing the highest work in either or
both OF our two subjects, then the
temptation would forever be strong to
scramble for whatever else we could
get and make reprisals and try to
make up for the loss of our own by
taking what might properly belong to
another. Everyone knows that this is
human nature.
have spoken thus plainly-but
kindly and hopefully-because my
face is turned toward the future OF the
great educational system of South Da-
kota-a future which is big with prom
ise II mistakes are avoided now. Il is
better to speak before it is too late. My
hope for the future is not based on the
work of the state schools only. This
is not plea for the state institutions
alone, which have the taxing power of
the state behind them, but for the de-
nominational colleges OF the state AZ
well, which are equally deserving of
their share OF encouragement and NOR
al support, and which contribute very
largely to the good citizenship OF the
state.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IS PARA
MOUNT.
And now word as to the importance
and possibilities OF agricultural edu-
cation in state like South Dakota.
1t is recognized that the primary OBJ
ject Of this institution is to provide
practical education along all lines af.
fecting the great agricultural and
stock-raising industries of the state.
These interests are fundamental and
directly or indirectly concern every cit
izen. Whatever can be done to pro-
mote the development OF these great
twin industries is sure to win approval
and secure support. The Agricultural
College is attempting to foster agricul-
tural studies both by enlarging the
scope OF such work and by encouraging
an increasing number OF students tD
pursue agricultural studies and in
vestigations.
That the college is from time to time
widening the scope OF agricultural
studies is shown by the fact that since
the last biennial report, two new
courses ofagricultural study have been
added to the curricula, namely, six
weeks coi,rse in agriculture offered in
midwinter and intended for practical
farmers; and two years special course
in agriculture, intended for those who
mean to become practical farmers and
livestock men, but who may not wish
to take the full four years course.
That there is an increasing number
OF students pursuing agricultural stud
les is seen by the fact that the annual
reports OF the Registrar of the college
show more than twice as many stu
dents in agricultural studies for the
year 1904 as for the year 1923.
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK.
Another field of legitimate labor for
the Agriculture College is its extension
work, such as farmers institutes,
home reading clubs, and distributing
information among the farmers and
stockmen by means OF bulletins issued
from the Experiment Station. Also
such an enterprise as the ''pure seed
special' recently run over the lines of
the Northwestern Railway in order
that professors OF the Agricultural Col
! lege might carry to the farmers valu-
able Information regarding the select
ing Of good seed.
Last month an enterprising farmer
of Union county told me that by fol-
lowing the instructions from the col
lege he had increased his corn from
twenty-eight bushels to the acre 10
eighty bushels to the acre. On
the same occasion livestock man of
the same county told me that the in
structions from the Agricultural Col
lege had increased his profits thous-
ands OF dollars a year. These are
instances among thousands OF SINH
lar ones. / find that the Agricultural
College saves millions of dollars every
year to the people Of South Dakota.
OUR UNITY OF PURPOSE.
Finally, il is our wish to work i'm
harmony with all the other education
al forces OF the state in developing
good citizenship and pure morality.
What we all want lis to maintain a
high type OF manhood and woman
hood for South Dakota.
1t is not fair to accuse denomina-
tional schools OF narrowness and big
otry and UNCONVENTIONAL selfishness.
1t is not so. They are making a free
contribution to the good citizenship of
the state and asking no state aid in
return.
Ia f.