Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1910-04-29
AGRICULTURE AS
A PROFESSION
Opportunities for Young People
in a New and Very Useful
Line of Study

]. H. Frandson professor of dairying
U. of l., Says
To gain some idea of the opportunities
all agricultural course affords, one has
but to survey the openings that pre-
sent themselves to the man, who, by
his training, is lifted to successfully
grapple with present day agricultural
problems. To gain an idea of the scope
of an agricultural course and demands
for it, one must, of course, have an in
telligent understanding of the many
and varied problems confronting the
present day agriculturist. Surely no
one who fully realizes the nature of
these problems and grasps the value
and Importance of the problems that
have been solved will hesitate to recog-
nize agriculture not only as one of the
professions but that profession where
endless opportunities are as yet hardly
realized.
In numerous localities in many of our
states, land is now selling at such
price that to make successful farming
possible means Abandonment of old
style methods and the application OF
the later and most approved principles.
For largest returns one must give the
same attention to minute details that
one would expect of the successful
banker or lawyer.
No man planning his own medical
course could hope for much future sue
cess as a physician if in that course he
neglected to make some provisions for
the study of anatomy, medicine and
bacteriology; so no man expecting to
take up agricultural work should ex-
pect the fullest measure of success nor
the returns if in preparing for his work
ne neglected securing some knowledge
of bacteria, physics, chemistry, and he
must know how to apply this knowl-
edge in the breeding of animals, the
care of the soil and the growing of
crops. AS an example OF the vast
possibilities along only one line, men
tion may be made of the fact that one
man, Professor Holden, of Iowa, by
his scientific knowledge of corn and the
principles governing the proper selec-
ton of seeds succeeded in raising the
yield of corn in one state alone In one
year over :, 600, 900 bushels.
There is now a strong demand for
men of agricultural training to assume
the management of large estates. to
become superintendent of large stock
farms, or large farms where pure seed
are grown. l have in mind professor
of agronomy, who resigned his college
position to take the management of
pure seed corn farm in Illinois at a
salary of something over $4,000.
The demand for trained men to act
as managers or butter-makers of large
.creameries is such that good men have
but to finish short course to be sure
of positions. The value of course in
dairying can be we'll Illustrated by the
actual accomplishment of young
agricultural graduate who assumed the /
superintendency of an eastern centra- /
lized creamery BY this scientific
knowledge of "cream ripening, " con-
trol of moisture content and exhausted |
churning" was able to save for his |
company annually something like !
s5O,0o0. Is it any wonder that men
s.who know can command good sal
aries? Opportunities possibly as great I
present themselves to the one inter /
ested in the breeding of live stock, I
pure seed of various kinds, or of the I
one interested in horticultural work.
The ,healthfulness of an outdoor pro-
fession surely should appeal to many
especially now that the cities boasted 4
advantages, such as telephones, mail
delivery, and car service, are the priv
lege of many rural communities.
So far, only the advantage, of an
agricultural course in practical senses !
have been mentioned Opportunities
equally attractive ssc open to the agri-
cultural graduate desiring career as
professor of investigator agriculturist.
Many of the eastern states, in compli-
ance with the popular demand, have
already established number of agri-
cultural high schools.
Bills. backed by powerful influence,
are now pending in congress. looking
toward the establishment of several
secondary agricultural schools in each
state. 1t will undoubtedly be but a
question of short time until these
schools will be established and their
success or failure from the very start
will depend largely on the ability of our
agricultural colleges TO supply enough