Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-06-07
SHOULD HAyE SCHOOL OF FARMING
Mr.. Fisher Offers Pertinent Suggestions
on Vital. Practical Subject

EDITOR CENSOR:-I have thought a
great many times about the advisability
of establishing an agricultural school
| for Vernon county but could never sum-
mon up courage enough to say ANYTHING
concerning it. However, since DR..
Schreiner, in his article of several weeks
ago in the CENSOR, started the project,
| would like to say word.
Vernon county is one of the best farm
| ing communities in the state, but not
one of the best farmed counties. But
who can blame US? When | think of
the past, / wonder how there can be
any efficient farmers, for in all of nv
| schooling | don't remember Of ever hav-
I ing lesson which pertained in any way
to agriculture or stock raising. Intact,
| it seems to me now that all our school
1 ing had tendency to educate US away
| from the farm. We hear many reasons
| given for the high cost of living, and l
sincerely believe the main reason to be
the lack of this agricultural education.
causing soil robbery which results in a
diminished yield from year to year. ANY
man above forty years of age who has
! been reared in Vernon county can well
remember the time when we raised
twice and often three times as much
per acre of the different crops as we
now do. This should not be so. 1t is
simply because we have never had the
opportunity to learn the a. b. C. of ag-
riculture. Show me farmer in YER
non county who knows anything about
farm physics or the science of agricul-
ture. | dare say there are none ex-
cept few of the younger generation
who were fortunate enough 20 take a
course in the agricultural college at
Madison. And this school is so crowded
that it is impossible for the students to
get the full benefit of the practical
work, but of course they profit by the
| lectures. | have talked with bows who
had attended both county and state ag-
ricultural schools and they all say the
, county school is far ahead in the prac-
teal work. Then again, it is financially
aid otherwise impossible for nine out of
ten who should and would attend a
county school to go to the state college
at Madison. THE adding of an agricul-
tural course to our country schools has
been agitated but do not believe this
is practical for none of the country
schools are equipped for either the prac-
teal work or the lectures; and no teach
er is qualified to do acceptable work
OIlE
or more years of preparatory work.
Now, just because we older farmers
have had no education along our line of
work and yet have kept out of the poor
| house, is no reason why our sons should
be denied a practical agricultural edu
cation. They have the problem of in
creasing and maintaining soil fertility
and improving the live stock cad grains
10 IN nd
ever be bobbing up. Who would ex-
| pect young man to make success of
any other business without bit of ed
ucation in that line? No one, of course.
| believe the law allows the state to
furnish aid to nine or ten county agri-
cultural schools. There are already five
in operation and two more under con-
struction. Why should not Vernon
county be one of the remaining two?
We certainly don't want to be lower
! than ninth place in education and prog
ress. The state is very liberal in this
matter. If the county will furnish the
location and suitable buildings the state
will pay three-fourths of the running
expenses. Now, why not hold meet
| ing and elect committee to petition
| the state that one of the remaining
schools be located in our county? Then
petition our honorable county board to
! appropriate a sum sufficient to defray
the cost of erecting building suitable
| for both an agricultural and training
school, located at that point in the
county which seems most suitable, SER
vicable and convenient for all time to
come. Then make it compulsory for
all teachers to take course in each.
This should bring satisfactory results,
and don't believe our county board
could appropriate money for better
purpose.
If these few rambling thoughts start
better heads TO thinking, will have
accomplished my object.
&c. B. FISHER.