Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-12-16
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Extension Department Of
the Montana State
College Of Agriculture
BY Professor F. S. Cooley.
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Although not formally organized as
q department., extension work has
been carried on under the auspices OF
the college for the past two years in
considerable variety and to an i'm.
portant extent, and it is inevitable
that this branch of college activity
will grow and expand to considerable
proportions. The demand for in.
structions in agriculture, home science
and other vocational subjects is in
sistent and Unsuitable. Every letter
written, every lecture given. every
short course offered, creates demand
for larger correspondence, more fire.
Quent lectures, and more comprehen-
sive courses Of instruction. The
schools, and especially the people out
of schools who are facing the problems
OF life. are eager for the best infOr-
nation and up to date instruction in
those problems. Already several
lines of extension work have been in.
augurated by the college and still 9th
ers are under consideration, waiting
only for the funds for their realization.
Among the branches of extension eff.
fort may be mentioned the following:
I. High School Lectures and Lee.
ture Courses. During the school year
19O8-9. upwards Of fifty lectures were
given to an aggregate of over 1000
pupils in fourteen of the Montana high
schools. During 19O9.1O the number
of lectures in the schools increased to
seventy-fivc in twenty schools, reach
ing about 5000 pupils. The plan has
been to offer these lectures in courses
comprising one general lecture upon
agriculture as profession, agricultur
al education. or education along vOca-
tional lines; the second lecture in
pure science which is in reality a Sc
lected instruction exercise in chemis.
try, biology. or natural science. adapt
ed to high school pupils; a third lee
ture in applied science as exemplified
in some branch of agriculture with it's
subdivisions Of agronomy, animal in
dustry. dairying. horticulture, or veter.
mary science; fourth lecture in cleo.
trical. mechanical. or civil engineer
ing. and fifth lecture in domestic
economy or science of the home.
It is the purpose to expand these
lectures into short courses which will
broaden the educational horizon of our
young people of the secondary schools
SO that many. particularly Of the boys,
who are now dropping out Of the high
schools will continue their secondary
training to a point insuring greater
efficiency and intelligence and better
equipment for useful lives in the com
munity.
2. Movable Schools. The first ex-
pertinent in movable schools, or local
farmers short courses. in Montana
was made during the winter Of 1910
and was directed particularly towards
the rapidly growing fruit industry of
Western Montana. Two schools. each
Of one weeks duration, were conduct
ed. consisting of two daily sessions of
instruction by horticultural and agri
cultural experts to regularly enrolled
classes. and a popular evening lecture
for the benefit OF the whole commit
nifty While in point of numbers the
attendance left something to be de
sired-like any new enterprise. 1t re
3nires exploitation and introduction to
the public before they are able to pass
npon it's merits and advantages-that
the communities where the schools
were held and several new commune
ties have asked for similar courses. is
sufficient commentary upon the
value of this class of work. 1t is not
to be expected that sparsey settled
nndeveloped state. with large per
centage of it's agricultural land In the
hands of spectators and real estate
dealers rather than in those Of the
productive farmer. will respond to
such courses of instruction as enthu
siastically as in the older agricultural
states like Iowa and Illinois.
3. Better Farming Special Trains
dairy special was operated Owe
Northern Pacific lines two years ag<
under the direction of Professor w.
Elliott. formerly professor of dairyin,
in the agricultural college. During tn
month of June. 1910. a general trail
consisting OF eight cars. five of which
were equipped with exhibits and illus
trative material for instruction pun
poses. was operated by the Northern
Pacific Railway company in co-Opers
ton with the Farmers Institute. f.,
pertinent Station and Agricultural Co
legdEhis train made forty-fOur stop
during the two weeks of it's run. me
about 10000 people. and instruc.io
was given by fifteen experts from III
college and experiment station stat
Dry land farming. stock growing. see