Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-01-18
WHY WE SHOULD DEVELOP EXTENSION TEACHING

, the organization OF fairs. conducting COM
petitions among farmers. promoting far
mers' conferences, organizing excursions
to the college, and cooperating with the
district schools and with all other organ
/ izations already existing in the state. Its
activities will thus be of a most varied
character and IL will endeavor to serve
the interest of every adult farmer and
other citizen of the state as well, for ii
is needless to say that the merchant and
the city man need information and adj
vice along agricultural lines quite as
much as the man living in the rural
districts. In fact. the merchant is re-
sponsible in some measure for the in
! ferior class of implements, fertilizers and
seeds used in many sections of the south,
as he has not kept abreast Of the times,
and instead of encouraging and stimu-
Iating the farmer to use the best has
frequently advised him that when he had
frequently advised him that what he had
was good enough. The losses resulting
from this state OF affairs can not be cor
rectly estimated but in the final analy-
sis il is enormous, and is a condition
which should be remedied as speedily
| as possible The man chhosen to CO.
F, operate with the schools will visit as
many of them as possible. will confer
with the county school commissioners.
| organize test plats in connection with the
district schools, advise how to introduce
agricultural instruction into rural and
city schools, assist In the establishment
of school gardens, and conduct a clearing
house generally on agricultural education
/ for the benefit of the teachers Of the
! state.
Much more might be said with refer
ence TO extension teaching. but it is APP
parent to every thoughtful person that
Il offers the best means of solving one
of the most perplexing problems which
confronts the farmer today. 1t means to
extend the work of the college to the 1T
. most confines of the state. 1t means the
correction of fundamental errors and the
| inspiration Of those who till the soil.
There should be an extension department
in connection with every agricultural COL
| lege in the South, and instead of hav-
| ing $1,000 It should have $4,000 year
at its disposal There is no work which
promises to confer such benign benefits
on the farmer as the extension move
ment. and since the South is essentially
an agricultural country. the sum sug-
gested should not be looked upon as
tax. but rather as a means of increasing
the wealth and power of the common
wealth through giving comfort and sue
cor to its citizens.
Il That the extension movement is appre-
.sciated is shown by the fact that the
farmers institute movement, organized a
few years ago in the United States. and
which constitutes but one phase of ex-
tension activity. has now become
movement of national Importance. In
1908 the forty-five states held ASP meet
ings, the total attendance was 2,4S0. 900,
and the cost of the work $4,000. When
nearly two and half millions of farm
ers throughout the United States will
stop their work to attend some $500 in
lstitutes, il shows that they realize that
there is a defect in their present knowl-
edge with reference to farm practice, and
that they are seeking for the latest and
best scientific information. first, because
they desire it; second. because they real
lie il is essential for them to have it;
and third, because they know II means
Increased dividends. We, as farmers,
have spent too much OF our time finding
fault with existing conditions and stand
ing to one side and waiting for the mil
lennium to come. Reforms do not come
without effort; criticism never accom-
lplislned anything except to break down,
Instead of uplift. If there are faults to
our present system of rural education, as
There certainly are, and II the correc-
Ition OF these is essential to the welfare
OF the rural population, the preservation
OF our soils. and thereby the integrity and
supremacy of the nation, let us be uD
and doing. Let us demand that an ade-
quate share of the revenues OF the state
be set aside for the maintenance of the
colleges Of agriculture and the secondary
schools. so as to enable them to give in
struction in agriculture. Let us see that
the work of the normal schools is so d.
rected that they will equip their teach
ers for leadership in the great agricul-
rural reform OF farm practice, and in
spire the boys and girls to live on the
land and maintain the independence of
their existence. Let us continue to de-
velop and support the extension system
until it shall bring every farmer within
the circle of its influence. Then let us
be willing to tax ourselves for local