Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-12-06

During the coming winter and spring
season the Agricultural Extension Di-
vision Of the University of Minnesota
will offer Short Course Schools in Hor-
ed only in those communities where
fruit-growing is being largely followed,
or where there is special demand for
them Because Of the very great de-
mand for Agricultural Short Courses
and Institutes in connection with the
various high schools over the state. on
~ limited number of these schools
can be scheduled this season.
The Time opportuns.
The time is opportune for installing
this line of work. But it is desired to
make a start in this work this season;
with the intention. should the support
justify it, of greatly extending and am
plifying it next year. The time for in
stalling such courses is obviously the
present. If for nothing else, the very
difficulties of fruit-growing in the state
demand it.
But we have an unprecedented crop Of
fruit in the state this past season. This
condition has pointed out several speci-
fic things so definitely that the public,
and especially the growers, have been
made to recognize their Importance. In
the first place. we have been shown that
fruit-growing is an inviting commercial
field in the lake region of southeastern
and central Minnesota. Much needs to
no do Of FL n
present tendency of our people to emf
crate west to go into commercial Or
charding.
Growers everywhere have been made
to realize. as never before, the great
Importance of superior methods in fruit
growing. In the time of keen compel
ition, it is always the slattern, wilful
or ignorant, that loses out" A product
which will command good price can no
longer be put out without careful at
tention to spraying. cultivation, prun-
ing. harvesting, packing and marketing.
In many districts this season, very good
fruit, that would have Melted it's own
ers nice sums of money, rotted under
the trees because no one in the commun-
ity properly understood grading, pack
ing and marketing.
Another fact, known previously, Tut
brought out more pointedly this season,
is this: That the choicer, more tender
varieties of fruit can be grown success
fully in the State, when topworked on
proper stocks; whereas they are fall
ure otherwise. Very few persons un-
derstand how to do this work success
fully; and it is in the province Of the
proposed schools to teach the principles
as we'll as the mechanics Of this art.
Skipping over the realm Of vegetable
gardening and trucking with it's Won
derfully golden opportunities as already
established, beyond a doubt, in this
State, want to direct attention for a
moment to another line, along which
there should be inaugurated a great
crusade of agitation and instruction.
refer to the matter of Home Planting
and Civic Improvement" A year and q
half of travel through the older ant
more well-to-do portions of the State
convinces the writer that the farm
homes are too frequently sadly lacking
in those features that make for neat
ness, beauty, hardness and health
This is excusable in a pioneer region
but in older places it must exist only
because the residents don't know.
And what has been said of the farm
homes must be said, in candid truth, o
the villages and towns in the same re
gions. Civic Improvement and HOME
Improvement alike-dealing as they dt
with landscape gardening in it's differ
ent phases-come we'll within the scoop
Of such instruction as is now offered.
How to Secure One Of These Schools
The community wishing this work t
be given must take the initiative. Will
the Extension Division, Universit
Farm, believes that this is an import
ant line of work, the calls already mad
upon it, for Agricultural High Schoo
Short Courses and Institute dates, for
bid it launching any new work which i
not imperatively demanded If you
community really wants such schoo
in it's midst, the following lines of &C
ton are suggested:
1. BE assured that there is a livel
general interest in the proposition in tn
community
2. Secure the hearty support and CO
operation of the Commercial Club of tn
town and of the Farmers Associatio
or Growers Union.
3. Conduct and bear all the expens,
r of wide and thoroughly organized crr
SADIE Of advertising.
4. Provide a suitable, well-heate
building for the meetings and demon
strations.
S. Pledge an attendance of at leas
fifteen people who will conscientious
carry out the work through the who
course. The attendance, at all excel
the popular evening meetings, will |
limited to thirty persons, in order tn:
good work may be DONE If necessal
in community, the enrolment will
placed in two or more groups, and Il
work repeated in each group.
s. Make arrangements with loo
nurserymen and growers for material
and for the privilege of visits to the