Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-01-11
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT.

word with reference to the devel-
o.lnent of the agricultural colleges
known as land-grant institutions viii
not be out OF place at this time as they
have made a much more rapid develop
nent than most people imagine, and are
In position 10 serve most of the states
in which they are located to better ad-
vantage than the people sometimes real
fze. These institutions. among the
youngest In our educational scheme,
came into existence through congress-
ional grants made I'm 1862. There are
now "a Institutions OF this kind main
tanning courses of instruction I'm. agri-
culture in the various states and ter
ritories OF the United States. The value
OF the property OF these Institutions is
something like s1os.0o0.o00. the income for
all purposes amounting to about $780,
go There are employed by these in
solutions 5.4l3 experts as instructors,
and IL should not be forgotten that these
nlent do a good part OF the farmers
institute work well. There are 67.209
students in these institutions of whom
more than 14,oo0 are taking agricultural
courses. The marvellous development in
agricultural educttiOn is shown by the
fact that in 1887 the income from tho
Immigrant colleges was about 10000.
the total value of the property 81. 90, 900,
and there were 1900 students studying
agriculture.
There has been a rapid development
OF what may be called agricultural high
schools as well. The state of Georgia
& has established IL of these. one in each
congressional district. and provides an
annual appropriation OF between 5000
and $4,000 for the maintenance of each
In 1887 there was only one state agrieul-
tursl high school Shortly thereafter
Alabama established one i'm each con-
sressional district Today there are Is
agricultural high schools OF the Min
nesota type. and % other agricultural
high schools. In all there are over go
public and private high schools and
academies which give some instruction
IN agriculture. These data show that
the farmer is coming to realize that
there Is something radically wrong with
his present methods of practice and
that education is to bring him the re-
lief he needs While IL is true that the
agricultural colleges and secondary ag-
ricuftural high schools are still i'm their
formative stages. they are rapidly devol-
oping an efficient organization. and are
IN position to render on fnestimable
service 10 the farmers of the country
and to take an active part in direct
ing the work OF rural education and
bringing the essential fundamental sci
farmer through the organization of ex-
tensfve teaching and cooperation with
the public school system of the state.
The service which the agricultural coll
leges have rendered in having blazing the
way for the redirection OF rural education
Is not fully appreciated. They have had
70 contend with the most serious of OBJ
stacies the most difficult of all probably
being indifference on the part of those
~ Uar f, Tl,,s -
that there are 1900 students PURSUING
courses In agriculture and that the num-
Der has more than trebled I'm the past IL
years shows the reversal in public senti-
ment and the high appreciation of the
service which these institutions can rem
der the farmer al the present and in this
immediate future. The movement for
secondary agricultural high schools il
spreading rapidly. and while various
methods Of legisltion to attain this end
are being pursued in the several states
steady and substantial progress Is being
made in the right direction. The colleges
OF agriculture are being much more lib
orally supported now fhan ever before in
their history. and they are beginning to
assume position OF leadership and be
looked up 10 and respected by those who
till the soil This is IL should be- for
few Of us realize what an immense
amount c. vital Information has been ac-
cumulated by these institutions in the
past few years and is now in a form
where II can be rendered available for
everyday service on the farm In fact.
while II IL still true that we are at the
threshold Of knowledge. and as Edison
Gays. Just beginning to suspect what the
future holds. the accumulation OF
knowledge in the past few years as IL
pertains TO agriculture has vastly exceed
ed the means of disseminating the same:
end while research must be prosecuted
With greater vigor than ever I'm order to
keep race with the advancement OF the
times and 20 solve the innumerable vex-
\ ing problems which confront the farmer.
~ is now of the utmost Importance that
Satisfactory means OF disseminating the
Information accumulated as rapidly and
SoroughIy as possible be developed
At first thought II would appear that
he schools wQSs1 furnish the best means
accomplishing this end but they are
pt prepe<sd to do the work and in tia
sshtime there is a rural population OF
many millions cropping on I'm darkness and
ignorance of various fundamental things
which mean to them successful farm
practice or ignominious- failure with its
accompanying disappointments and de-
spair Something must be done immedi-
ateIy for the scattering broadcast of Vital
information among the adult population
That this is necessary is shown by the
facA that II has taken years and years
for the farmers as a whole to acquire
even the most cursory knowledge OF fer
mixers and fertilizing materials, and by