The La Jara chronicle., 1910-02-18
RUR AL LYCEUM S.

Agricultural knowledge has accu-
nsuiated so fast in recent years and
the problems of the rural communl-
ties have multiplied so rapidly that
one of the hard questions with which
those engaged in agricultural exten-
sion work have to deal is how TO dis
tribute this available information so
that it will be of the greatest immedi-
ate service in solving these problems.
Even the most backward of our
agricultural population are beginning
to feel the need of outside help in
their farming operations, the only
knowledge of which they have had
heretofore being that handed down
from father to son.
We are reaching small percentage
of our rural population. especially the
younger generation, through our
schools and colleges of agriculture.
which are giving to the men and wo-
men who attend them something that
they can make practical use of when
they return to the farm. However.
these Institutions fail to bring to the
larger part of the population infor-
nation which it should have in order
to make the best success of farming.
The farmers Institutes held
throughout the state are reaching
large numbers. but the infrequency
of their occurrence in the same com
munity leaves room for some other
agency to fill long felt want in our
farming sections.
The institution that can largely fill
this opening is some sort of an or
ganization of the farming population.
In business. organization is the key
to success. its main purposd being
for the financial improvement of
those Interested. through the study
investigation, discussion and settle
ment Of questions involving methods
of conduct and general policy of men,
bers as individuals or as a whole.
Just as the business men of town
organize for mutual benefit. so can
the farmers Of each community or
sanize for the same purpose, and get
together occasionally for the purpose
of exchanging ideas. studying loca
prob ems, keeping in touch with the
advance made ia agricultural science
and generally improving themselves,
inteIligently and socially. Such or
sanizations would not only greatly in
crease the value of the work now be
ing done by our school, and colleges
of agriculture ard farmers institutes,
but would fill a place in the com
munity life which nothing else can.
They may be modelled on the lines
of the old singing societies and ly-
ceums about which we have read and
heard so much and which played so
large a part in the social and intel
lectual life of our early eastern com
munities. These early meetings were
given over largely to purely cultural
subjects, such as singing, recitations.
and dialogues, but with our present
belief that subject may have both
cultural and practical value, our rural
population may organize and conduct
lyceums at which they can study and
discuss topics of immediate value
subjects that concern their every day
life that are closely connected with
actual farming operations and still
retain some of the features of the old
time lyceum.
There is an unlimited field in this
state for work of this kind Nothing
can strengthen community more or
be of greater financial, intellectual. or
social value to its population than or
ganized meetings held at regular in
tervals at which the members can
fully and intelligently discuss the
problems that are of vital interest to
them.
We believe that the people of every
farming section should organize and
get together frequently. Suggestions
will be made as to how it may be
done.