The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-11
Editorial Section.
New Work for the Rural Schools.

= it's readers the plan adopted by the school
Of agriculture for the introduction Of the elements
Of agricultural study into the rural schools Of the
state and the proposition to award prizes, amount
ing in the aggregate to $4,000, to the growers Of
the best varieties Of seed. As a sort Of textbook
for the use of teachers and pupils the school is
sending out a bulletin prepared by c. P. Bull, as
sistant agricuturist Of the experiment station,
which explains how the competitors for these prizes
are to conduct their experiments and submit their
results IN the contests. Fifteen thousand of these
bulletins have been sent out, and the demand is
so great for them that $4,000 more have been or
dered printed to supply those who are interested
in the undertaking.
1t is a very interesting and attractive publca-s
ton. The elemental facts with regard to the three
different grains-wheat, corn and oats-with which
it IS proposed to experiment are presented in very
simple language, 50 that the children may under
stand thoroy every step of the processes at which
they are assisted. One correspondent who has been
in receipt ofs.the bulletins Of the department for
some time writes to say that all bulletins from the
agricultural school and experiment station should
be written in the same simple interesting style,
assuming that the reader is without information
to the various stages of plant growth described
and the best methods Of producing satisfactory
results. 4#1-
The chief interest, Of course centers in the pro-
nesota is the greatest wheat state in the union and
yet the production Of this crop has been attended
by such unscientifc and really unbusinesslike meth
DDS that it is becoming in some sections unproft-
able. Not only is the yield an acre only about
twothirds Of what it ought to be, but the quality
has, deteriorated seriously. It is the conviction
of the experts Of the school Of agriculture that
in the production and selection Of seed which will
naturally be attended by intelligent treatment Of
the soil, may within very few years increase the
wheat crop Of this state 30 per cent 1s-a4
concrete example Of the value Of good seed
is found in the experience Of member Of the
school faculty. whose tests not made upon the
soil Of the experiment staton-which might be ex-
pected to be well prepared-but upon land Of a
supposedly worn-out farm which he bought for his
own By planting only carefully selected seed,
this experimenter raised the yield 80 per cent the
first year from what it had averaged for period
Of years previously and enjoyed such a demand for
his crop as seed that it commanded fancy price
and Melted him SIS an acre the first year than
the original cost Of the land:
Good seed is not story by any means
in Minnesota and the northwest, but the education
of children in rural communities is much the most
certain way of arousing the interest and securing
the cooperation Of the people in the production
of the best grade Of wheat The old farmer may
concede the reasonabeness Of the argument in favor
Of good seed and proper treatment of the soil as
theory, but he is very apt to go along in his old
time sip-shod way; but once the children Of the
rural schools become interested in the matter and
have demonstrated in their own experience the
great advantage Of good seed and good farming,
there is the fullest that better methods
will come into general vogue very soon. This plan
for instruction in the rural schools in the produc-
ton of good seed is movement Of the highest
Importance and prospectvely Of incalculable value
to the state.