The La Jara chronicle., 1910-10-28
EXTENSION.


lege believes that there is no
way in which a commercial asso-
ciation eaa- be so helpful to its 10
cality as assisting in the develop
ment of the agricultural possibili-
ties of that community along
practical lines.
The greatest need of Colorado
is that of agricultural development
This need is emphasized by the
fact that last year there were i'm
ported into this state meat and
food products to the value OF
nearly $34, 100000, or practically
the same value as the productions
of the metal mines of the State.
Practically all of these food
stuffs could be grown in Colorado
and some of them grown cheaper
here than at the place from which
they were imported.
This is state in which the
agricultural problems are extreme
ly diversified and its develop
ment must be along lines of specu'
lation. Nearly every community
excells in it's adaptability to SOM
particular crop or line of produc
tion, and it is of the utmost
Importance that each community
shall find what its opportunity is
and push production along the
lines in which it excells.
The agricultural development of
the state has been hampered for
many reasons, chief among which
is the lack of experience of the
farmers of the state in the condi-
tions which surround them. y
large percentage of the agricultu
raj population Of Colorado comes
from other states where agricul-
tural conditions are very different
Indeed, many of the problems of
Colorado has never been met
elsewhere. 1t is hardly to be sup
posed that this new population Is
always prepared to make the
best of the opportunities of the
community in which they settle.
The Colorado Agricultural Col
lege, through its department OF
Farmers Institutes and Agricul-
tural Extension, is doing its best
to reach all parts of the STATE
but it is impossible, with the small
amount of funds and men at its
command, to do this in as
thorough ii manner as could be
wished, and the diversified inter-
ests and problems of the state
render it difficult for the College
to be as helpful as it is anxious
to be in many parts of the state.
1t is because of this that the
commercial club can be of the
greatest assistance to its own
town and community by the estab
lishment of Demonstration Farms
upon which the lines of produc-
ton most suited to that community
may be taken up and which may
serve as an object lesson to the
community. In many parts of the
state there is a great need of
! pure seeds adapted to the local
ity in which the crop is to be
grown, and there is no source of
such seed supply. The es-
tablishment of a farm upon which
such seeds could be produced un-
der the direction of the Agricul-
tural College would prove of grea'
benefit to the community and a
source of profit to the grower.
These demonstration farms shoulC
be operated in the most profitable
way possible and an exact record
should be kept of the cost of the
: operation and returns. Institute
meetings should be held on these
farms two or three times year
An agricultural library could be
maintained on these farms and
] they might become a center for
.. better agricultural practices and
larger community ideals. A SER
ious problem confronting Colorado
is that Of keeping the settler af'
, ter he comes. Many of these set
tiers coming from old established
communities of the middle west
in which there exists a neighborl!
, feeling and community life, miss