Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-07

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has been found necessary to insist that each COM
munity defray all expenses except 500, which will
be paid for instructors from the institute FUND.
The people in these communities realize that It re-
Quires men and women of special training to give
instruction before these schools IL is dihcult to
secure such instructors for short period OF time
and naturally the state conduct this work
cheaper than communities. The term school carries
with It, in the minds Of some people, the idea OF
elementary instruction. that does not apply TO these
schools Special classes arranged for the boys
and girls and instruction is given to the grade pu-
pies where they have an opportunity to attend In
fact effort is made the part of the instructors
to help as many people possible who really want
to learn something about new methods in agrieul-
ture.
These schools have done much to bring the peo-
pie Of the town and the country into closer coop
Grafton 1t requires the heartiest cooperation be-
tween the country and the town to make a success
of an extension school AT Broken Bow last year
an admirable example of this cooperation was ex-
hibited. The people of the town opened their
homes to their friends from the country furnished
them with a room and breakfast during the week
of the school. We cannot expect the daily attend
ance of these schools to be large those of the
regular Farmers institute. The weather conditions
often prevent farmers from driving in long dis
furnished an abundance of such undesirable
weather nevertheless there average OF nearly
100 men and 100 women in attendance at all these
schools These different lines of extension work
appeal to the people; they offer an opportunity of
bringing some of the instruction of the agricultural
college out the communities in different parts of
the state 1t is impossible for many who would
like to attend the agricultural schools and colleges
to leave their duties the farm and take advan-
tage of this instruction But these people are able
to arrange their work so that they can attend
weeks school If it is brought to their own town.
The people of Nebraska are ready for this work.
Regular instructors should be employed by the
year. devoting their time during the winter to
farmers institute and extension school instruction,
and their summers to cooperate work among the
farmers putting into practice the theories that
taught the institute platform and in these
schools Nebraska needs extension for
every department represented in the experiment
station.
There is much demonstration work which could
be conducted. dairy testing association in
Douglas county, organized by the university dairy
department, is proving some of the things which
can be done by the extension department
The demonstration In spraying work which has
been conducted by the Department of Horticulture
has accomplished more in getting the orchardists
to spray their fruit than all of the bulletins
spraying the department has ever published. There
are quantities OF information which the station has
worked out, much of which has been published, but
the average farmer does not know just how to ap-
ply this information.
The thing most need at present is not SO
much to learn methods it is to furnish plans
and inspiration for the farmer to put into practice
the things that have already been found to be true.
Other states are awake to the Importance OF this
movement Iowa appropriates $27,5O0 annually
for the extension work alone This money does
not need to be used for conducting farmers insti-
tutes; in fact, the institutes handled by sepa-
rate department. Minnesota appropriates $4,000
year for similar work Kansas appropriates
s27,5O0 for institutes and extension work. Me-
braska appropriates $4,000 per year. Nebraska is
recognized of the leading states In its meth
DDS of conducting Institutes; in fact there is but
four-day Institutes and the institute schools which
have been conducted. AS stated already, it re-
Qures instructors of special training to do this
work. OF all the students that gradute from the
agricultural colleges there only few who pre-
fer to give their time to this sort of public work
Indeed, many are not fitted for such work. II Ne
braska expects to hold Its most competent speakers
II must pay them WELL At the present time Iowa
and other states making desperate effort to
secure some OF Nebraskas best instructors by offer
ing higher salaries. II Nebraska is going to con-
tinue the work its institute department must have
a sufficient sum OF money to hire the best talent
or take second rate instructors, and consequently
carry second rate class of schools and insti-
tutes. The good which has been accomplished is
only an index to the work waiting to be done