Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-06-07
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Garden
ROMANCE OF THE FARM.
Three Institutions Have Made the Till
Or Wealthy, Wise and Comfortable

nFO0 INV N'990 wv
Or Wealthy, Wise and Comfortable
The story Of agricultural education a
In America, ike that Of all science
can be traced page after page In the
great book Of evolution. and the amaz-
ing developmentof the industry In the
United States has been due to three IS
factors-first, the state agricultural col 9
leges; second, the national department /.
Of agriculture: third. the farmers In a
stitutes. q
The American agricultural colleges A
had their beginning In revolt against 8
the so called classical education. but II !,
was never intended. as their eminent
founder pointed out. that they should
be ASSOCIATED from a broad and liberal
university training. Mr.. Justin s. Nor
rill, the author OF the Magma Charta
Of Higher Agricultural Education"
more than once stated the real purpose
of his bill. 1T Is perhaps needless to
say that these colleges were not estao-
lished or endowed for the sole purpose
| OF teaching agriculture 1t was
| liberal education that was proposed
| Classical studies were not to be ex-
| cluded and therefore must be inciuo-
ed"
The number OF agricultural colleges
now established is sixty five; the pres
ent value OF their permanent funds
and equipment is S1OO.OOO,OoO- A re-
rent census showed 1888 students
with 6.997 teachers.
The rise Of the United States depart
ment of agriculture is romance OF
| the last century As far back N the
year 1922 a strong effort was made to
transform the mall-some 200 acres
Of land which surrounded the capitol
buildings-then practically barren
waste. into an experiment farm In
-, which to propagate new and rare
plants. But II was not until forty
wears later that the United States de-
partment Of agriculture was erected
p on the selfsame spot which had pre-
l. viously been sought as an experiment
1 farm.
" The alpha and omega OF this great
!, organization is the practical applica-
l. ton Of modern science to the service
# of the farmer 1t can perhaps best be
20 summed up IN a homely remark OF
. Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson, who
on assigning new duties to an expert
said: Don't tell me now about you
C. laboratories. Tell me what you are
doing for the man at the pillow, GU
In the fields, with his coat on"
~ Then come the farmers Institutes
These wonderful societies are scat
tered all over America and boast I
members roll Of more than million
mature men and women. These inst
tutes may be defined as societies es
"a bushed for the promotion Of agricul
ture among the farming population,
'ss and they came into being in order Z
Oh make the college teaching more praC
ch teal and more IN sympathy with tn
If needs OF the farming community. The
ert have proved a great success and hav
" done much to speed forward the ayr
ter cultural industry. Lectures are give
mt by agricultural experts and practices
% farmers. and the meetings last only
:; day or two at most In this work II
farmers wives and daughters take
IN prominent part. and women's inst
'nu tutes are now established all over tt
at United States and Canada for Il
study OF household science.