Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-24
BOHEMIAN FARMING TEACHERS.
TCedar Ranjds c,azette I

Many Bohemians of Cedar Rapids
who have lately paid visit to old
Bohemia return with the statement
that they hardly recognized the coun-
try OF their birth. One man who had
recently returned from visit In the
old country, said to a reporter of The
Gazette that altho he anticipated
RADICAL change in the conditions from
what they were when he left that coun-
try to make his home in America some
twenty years ago, he was taken by
surprise. The customs to which the
people chung tenaciously have sudden
ly. almost abruptly, disappeared from
the land, and only remnants of the
olden times linger in the out of the
way places. The people have also
changed. and are thoroughly imbibed
with modern ideas. The immigrants,
too. who come to this country from
Bohemia at the present time differ in
many ways from the immigrant who
came here twenty or thirty years ago
They have had a better education, are
more familiar with the modern world,
and are better prepared to learn the
/. English language. In some instances
young people have come to America
after two years of studying the Eng
! lish language in the high schools of
Bohemia.
! There are several causes which could
be mentioned as being responsible for
the sudden change in picturesque Bo-
| hernia. The predominant cause, how
ever, is education, and the little ma
ton now has a very effective system
. of teaching the various subjects, from
art to mechanics and agriculture It
would, indeed. be a deplorable situa-
! ton if the nation that gave to the
world SO able an educator as John
Amos Komensky would have a poor
system of teaching itself. Yet up to
recent years such has been the case,
and the most valuable literature of this
country was destroyed in the several
wars which swept the country. Now
! however, there is a great awakening
in the little country, and education
thrives splendidly. The Boston Even
ing TRANSCRIPT contains the following
on Bohemia's new system of teaching
i agriculture:
I Bohemia has system Of travelling
teachers, who tour the country in
structfng farmers and others interest
ed in the science Of agriculture, ac-
cording to Consul Joseph I. Britain, OF
Prague. The teachers have been or
ganized by the Bohemian government
Each teacher has several specialties
for instance. one has dairying and hop
! culture and the scientific plan Of fertil-
fling meadows; another teaches the
proper care of grapes and gives prac-
! teal demonstrations and lectures on
vegetable culture.
All land owners, farmers, teachers
; and persons interested in agriculture.
questions are entitled 10 receive In
struction. The tuition fee for eacf
course Is 5000, the student paying the
; cost Of lodging and similar expense
To those unable to pay the government
gives s10.15 each, with a total limit o,
1929 for all deserving pupils in eacl
l school. The woman are taught fru''
, preserving and marmalade making
, The course includes instruction in irri.
cation, fertilization, forestry, the pre-.
! vention and cure of plant diseases. thu
t cultivation Of vines. the keeping o
] poultry, bees, veterinary surgery ant
the care of the home.
$ Speaking Of the good results OBJ