The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-11-03
AGRICULTURAL TEACHING
DICK J. CROSBY TALKS UPON
THAT AND ALSO UPON
CONSERVATION.

His Discourse l. Given In the Hall OF
Representatives and Is Listened 10
With Deep Interest.-Speaker Il
Pleasantly Introduced by Governor
John 4. Mead.
There was a smaller attendance
than the occasion deserved at the
lecture by Dick j. Crosby OF the De-
partment of Agriculture in Repre-
sentatives Hall Monday evening. his
subject being Conservation and Ag-
ricultural Teaching"
Mr.. Crosby is thoroughly informed,
one of the few sent out by the De-
partment of Agriculture to deliver
such lectures, a man of pleasing per-
sonality and an excellent speaker. He
was introduced by Governor J. A.
Mead, who spoke briefly but pleas
ingly and showed himself in accord
with the ideas of the speaker and the
purposes for which the meeting was
held.
Mr.. Crosby spoke in part as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Crosby's Address.
eve have heard a good deal in the
past two or three years about the
conservation of our natural resources.
Conservation, | take it, does not
mean simply saving; it is not hoard
ing up our resources without MAX
ing any use of them The CONNER
cial standing of a city is not rated
by its teapot and stocking boards of
gold, not alone by savings bank de-
posits, but by clearing house records,
by the business done, by the use of
money.
And so conservation of our natural
resources consists in making the best
possible use of our resources. Con-
servation of the soil does not consist
in letting the soil lie idly, but in
using it intelligently so that it may
not only produce large crops and
contribute to the wealth of the pres
ent owner but may also be enriched
and preserved for future occupants.
True OF Forests.
The same is true of our forests
and our waters. We do not conserve
the water of our streams by dam
ming them and holding back all the
waters from the mills and the irri-
gated farms, but by damming them
in order that we may have the water
to use in running our factories and
in watering our crops.
The success OF any comprehensive
scheme of conservation depends upon
education, upon the intelligent CO.
operation of all people. The people
must understand what conservation
means and this general understand
ing of the problem can only be
struction through all the available
educational institutions. Our re-
sources are largely agricultural, and
hence we'll organized system OF
agricultural schools and colleges IS
essential 60 the successful carrying
out o. conservation program.
Talks With Governor.
Il had very interesting talk this
morning with your honored and
distinguished Governor. who told me
that the platform of his administra-
ton was o. better schools co bet
ter agricultural conditions CD better
roads. This is a splendid platform and
its very simplicity and comprehensive
fAn ~ n n
ment of Vermonts most important
resources is an indication of the
splendid mind that conceived it.
Better schools, better agricultural
conditions and better roads are in
separately connected in any success
full scheme for the improvement OF
conditions in State so largely agri-
cultural as Vermont.
Agricultural Education.
My interest naturally lies largely
aolng the lines OF agricultural educa-
ton and my program for permanent
progress in agricultural education
would include QD better support for
the State Agricultural college and
Experiment Station, (2) few good
agricultural high schools, one, two or
three as The needs demand CD agri-
cultural teaching in the public high
schools and academies, and ca ma
ture study on the elementary schools.
THE question might be asked. Why
not reverse this order, and, beginning
with. the elementary schools, work up
to the college?
Colleges of agriculture were start