Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-02-24
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

ence of Northern Minnesota counties
was the interested and interesting dis
cussion of the subject of agricultural
education. 1t was an eye-opener to
many there who never had the value
and Importance of the subject brought
to their attention, and it is fair to say
that an impulse was given at that
meeting to the movement for the
spread of agricultural knowledge that
will be quite as great a help to it as
anything that has happened.
One thing made very clear there is
that the cause Of agricultural educa-
ton in this state is being sadly handi-
capped by dissensions caused by those
who appear to place more value upon
the particular methods of agricultural
education to which they are commit
ed than they do upon agricultural
education itself. The familiar debate
between the advocates of the congress
sional district agricultural college, the
advocates of the agricultural high
school and the advocates of the coun-
ty agricultural school, was rehearsed
there, reminding those familiar with
legislative history of the many occas-
ions when legislation for agricultural
education has been defeated because
these embittered advocates of inhar-
monious plans were unable to agree.
It needs to be impressed upon these
well-meaning but short-sighted parti-
sans that what is needed first is agi-
tation for. more agricultural education,
and that when the state is committed
to broad and liberal and progressive
policy in this matter will be time
enough to talk about methods.
The need and the value of agricul-
tural education both are two-pronged:
for there is the need of agricultural
education TO interest the boys and
keep them on the farm. and there is
the need of agricultural education to-
prevent wastes and to make the soil
yield it's utmost without exhaustion.
Both must be considered, and each is
more important than the dispute be-
tween the various plans. .~&
To one not committed to any plan
but warmly favoring agricultural edu-
cation as we'll as industrial education
and the teaching of domestic science,
it would seem that Prof. A. M. Dunton,
who presides over an agricultural high
school Of his own creation at Mcintosh
but who favors elementary agricultur-
al instruction in rural schools as a
foundation for higher work in such
schools as that at Crokston, has about
as sensible a view of it as anybody
Mr.. Dunton, it is said, has done more
for agricultural education in this state
than any other man, and he has done
nothing better than his stand against
the entertainments Of the high schools
upon the rural schools. -.
AS to the value Of agricultural edu-
cation, not only to boys who will be.
come farmers but to men who have
farmed for many years, while it should
need no argument whatever. an Incl.
dent related at the Bemidji confer
ence illustrates it's possibilities. Near
a small town in Minnesota was an old.
fashioned farmer who had a small
herd of cows which he was handling
in the good ole traditional way, which
isn't good way at all. An expert
went to his farm, remained there two
days watching, and when he left gave
SUGGESTIONS as to feeding which i'm.
mediately resulted In an increase of
SIX gallons of milk in the daily yield
OF that small herd. That is Just one
item; but if similar instruction could
be given to every farmer who needs
1t, the result would be an enormous
increase in the farm output and there
fore a large increase in, the profits
OF farming.
Minnesota needs vast extension Of
agricultural education. and it win be
nearer getting it than 1t is now when
there IS more discussion Of the need
and less dispute as to methods Of
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