The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-11-03
WILL TEACH AGRICULTURE.

WILL TEACH AGRICULTURE.
With a view of spreading agricuitur-
al education to those on the farms Tue
Department of Agriculture is heart |
ily cooperating with the American AS.
ISOLATION of Farmers Institute WORK
ers and the agricultural schools ana
colleges of the various states, IN the
organization of movable schools OF az
riculture. The plan is to organize lhe
farmers of community over nineteen
years of age who have had good com
mon school training and some prac-
teal experience in tae directlon OF tue
subject taught, into classes for lnstruc-
ton in agriculture no class TO consist
of less than eight nor to exceed n1teen
persons. Prospective members are re
CURED to pay their tuition fee, attend
the lectures and perform all OF the
practical exercises that the school pre-
scribes. A guaranty is also required
from the locality that there shall De
provided free of cost to those sending
out the school suitable hall for mold
ing tae meetings, with laboratory
room. desks and material for illustra-
ton.
The schools are organized for the
study of scientific and economic meth
DDS for the growing of crops,
breeding and care of animals and gen.
eral improvement of agriculture. Each
course is to be confined to single sub.
| ject, such as cheese making, butter
making, milk production, fruit grow
| ing, market gardening, farm organiza-
! ton, poultry rearing, preparation OF
/ cereal or starch foods, of animal foods,
Of fruit and vegetable foods, household
economy, kitchen gardening, nature
study, school gardens and grounds and
school architecture and sanitation.
There are three courses OF three
years each, one dairy husbandry,
another domestic science and the third
a course for country school teachers
The school will last from week to
two months. according to the charac-
ter and Importance of the subject stud
led. The purpose is to equip fourteen
or fifteen persons in each community
VITA information that will enable them
to improve in their locality the branch
of agriculture which the school repre-
sents.
!, The method of discussion will be
from the product back to the forces
} that produced it, or the reverse of that
in use in long course work in college
Soils will be studied as factors in the
growing of crops. Vegetables physi
ology will be studied as it relates t.
the plants and crops being studied al
the time The schools are to be helt
at the least busy season of the yea
and are to be in charge of an exper
teacher with an assistant. Qualified
$ instructors should also be employed
: for teaching other subjects, such a
l. building construction, farriery, ayr
u cultural law, veterinary science, book
keeping, farm economics. farm me
chanics and farm hygiene. During tn
period when schools are not held tn
r instructors are to visit farms and ad
wise. inspect markets, visit rura
t .cnools, lecture and lay out school gal
: dens, organize farm clubs, classes 70
; movable schools, reading and stud
clubs, establish vegetable and flowe
:, gardens in county fair grounds, atten
picnics, introduce circulating librarie!
= hunt up students for agriculture co
8 leges and establish agricultural club
- for boys and girls.
q The teaching Is oral accompanie
N by reading and practice exercises, wit
10 a daily lecture by teacher in charg
=. The students are then to look UP an
= study the references to authorize
g given by the instructors and to stud
Or them for two hours, to be followed b
of their practical verification in labor
re tory analysis or practical demonstra
h ton in the field or stable The st
as dents are to continue their studies an
ne demonstrations of the subjects at the
ct homes where the school is not in Sc
is sion. The Depaartm ent of Agricultul
i'd believes these schools will increase a
as ricultural production and intere
many in the general betterment
rural conditions and eventually
r. come part of the system of public i
struction. BY providing permanent er
es, ployment for itinerant teachers the
Die will open up a new field for capab
er, men and women in rural agricultur
til colleges and other higher institution
nd of learning to introduce into the
as teaching special normal courses
ed, fit teachers for giving instruction
yer agriculture.
yer ------------
~ STATUS OF WATER POWER.
VIZ Now that the presidential conte