The Somerset reporter., 1909-02-11
AGRICULTURAL SHORT COURSES.

SHORT COURSES.
The practical and valuable work Of
number Of state agricultural col
leges Is being widely extended during
the present winter through series
of short courses of Instruction In agri-
culture, animal husbandry and domes-
tic economy which are being held In
the larger towns throughout the sew
erai states. The courses usually cover
week. are thoroughly advertised.
largely attended and In most cases
where held have paid financially.
The Inauguration of these movable
short course schools has placed the
benefit of the instruction given at the
agricultural college. If but for a short
period, within the reach OF very
large number Of people, who are thus
able to derive the benefits OF instruc-
ton In these various lines without the
expense which would be incident to
trip to the college The professors ana
their assistants have charge OF the In
structlon work and put just as much
thought and energy into 1t as they
would In the case Of classes at col
lege. Glasses for men and boys are
given instruction In stock judging and
In the judging. selection and testing or
corn and small grains. while the wo-
men and girls are given instruction
and practical experiments in domestic
science, including the food value. Sc
lection and preparation of food prod
ucts for the table, and lessons IN
household management. including san
itation, home hygiene and other sub
jects. A tuition fee varying from 81
to $3.50 is charged for the weeks
course. and 1t seems to be the verdict
of most OF those who attend that they
get their full moneys worth. Many.
seeing the practical value Of the In
struction given, have an interest
aroused which leads them to take
more extended courses Mt the college
proper. The short course schools con-
Quoted on the above or quite similar
lines are q most valuable addition to
the good work which our agricultural
schools are doing and will tend to
arouse an interest along lines that are
of the highest economic importance.
FAKE HOG CHOLERA SERuMS.
One OF the emergency bulletins re-
Gently issued by the department of ag-
riculture at Washington brands as
rank frauds one or two brands of hog
cholera serum which have been advef'
tised within the past two or three
months. The claims of the efficacy or
the serum In question were put In very
strong language, but when put to the
test In accordance with directions on
the containing bottles by the depart
ment experlmenters the medicine was
found to be absolutely worthless, every
hog treated turning up its toes like
other unvaccinated animals. In view
of the high price at which reliable
serum Is sold, the temptation Is very
great for grafters and impostors to
concoct bogus article. grace 1t with
a fancy name and palm 1t off on the
unsuspecting. who. II they need hog
cholera remedy at all, need 1t badly
and would purchase without stopping
to question its reliability. 1t would be
well for all those wishing to make
trial of the new hog cholera remedy to
use only such brands Of the serum rs
have the commentator Of the special
lists In animal diseases at the state ex-
pertinent station or of the state veteri-
marian. and the hogs should only be
treated by one who understands his
business thoroughly. This manufac-
ture and sale Of bogus hog cholera Sc
rum call rather forcefully TO mind the
fraud that was extensively perpetrat-
ed a couple of years ago under the
gulse of nitrocultures supposed to con-
tain bacteria whose presence was IA
vorable to the growth of a number
Of the legumes An examination by
the government experts revealed much
the same condition as has been found
to exist In connection with the intro,
duction of the new hog cholera serum