Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-12-15
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1911.
MR.. MICHEL FAVORS AORICUL-
TURAL SCHOOLS.

SdlQ MI. MlCucl III Ills pldtlOIlu,
with the splendid work accom-
plished by the agricultural schools
in a number of the parishes, and
favor systematic development Of this
form of education. 1t is of the ut
most importance to the future well
fare and prosperity Of the State that
the youth of the agricultural dis
tricts should be afforded an oppor-
tunity To obtain tuition in scientific
farming, in order that the agricul-
tural wealth of the State may be
fully developed and those who fol-
low agricultural pursuits may profit
by modern methods of treating and
tilling the SOIL"
1t is almost impossible to over
estimate the mighty benefits which
will accrue to the people of this
State through scientific agriculture.
We have in Louisiana the most
fertile land on earth, and yet lands
in a great many other States are
selling for many times as much per
acre as our lands sell for. Scien-
tifc agriculture will make our lands
produce two or three times as much
per acre as they do now, and with
increased production there will come
an enhancement in the value of our
lands, an influx Of immigration and
foreign capital to the State, and last,
but by no means least, stream OF
gold to the Louisiana farmers.
Hon. N. o. Nelson of Missouri,
one Of the foremost authorities on
agricultural schools in the country,
made the following comment on the
necessity Of Agricultural Schools in
Louisiana.
The cities and towns are as
much interested as the farmers, for
Louisiana is the main trade terri
tory, and farmers the main body of
customers. Ii be should rise from
his present average production, say
$3.50 per year, to the Iowa average
of $500 per year, his selling and
buying would be $500 per year
instead of $500. More than treb-
ling the trade of the State. There
are scattering farmers who do it
now; all can do it. He has large
advantage over the Northern farm
er, because the Southern prices on
nearly all farm produce, including
stock, is the Northern price plus
freight, one extra middleman's
profit.
New Orleans and the larger towns
of the State bring from other States
most Of its meat, butter, poultry,
eggs, fruit, potatoes, much of its
hay, corn and oats; most of its
mules, its best horses, and even
oranges and water-melons. The on
coming generations must be reached
This can be best done through the
rurual schools. The high schools
reach comparatively few, and many
of them forsake the farm for the
town. Notably in Wisconsin, also
in Winnebago county, Illinois, and
Page county, Iowa, the rural ele-
mentary schools, which all children
attend, have been ruralized; the ex-
listing town course of study has been
radically changed to one suited suit
ed to farming and rural life. The
school houses are being used as
meeting places, and social centers.
Louisiana has in recent years
made wonderful advance in its edu-
cational system and provision. Many
agricultural high schools and some
agricultural grade schools have been
established. Some agricultural teach
ing is required in all the rural
schools in some parishes. There are
many consolidated schools, some Of
which operate vans to carry the
children. This liberal start should
be enlarged on. Improved farming
should be taught, and shops, kitch-
ems and an experimental farm at
tached to every rural elementary
school.
There should be in every parish
an assistant to the Superintendent,
whose soul duties should be the in
PRODUCTION Of the study and practice
of farming, and the social organic
ing OF the Committees and farmers
productive business associations.
This gets education down to earth;
it will make three blades grow where
one grows now, and it will make a
new state out of the new generation.
1t viii take money for equipment
and salaries, but it will pay for it
self many, times over in immediate
as well as future results"
Mr.. Michel says. that if elected,
he hopes to establish good agri-
cultural school in every agricultural
parish in the State: and as the