Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-07-21
EXTENSION SCHOOLS
PURPOSE AND HOW TO SECURE
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
SCHOOLS.
NOT Farmers Institute, But School
in the Strict Sense OF
That Word.
written and prepared expressly for
this paper)


this paper)
A recent number of the West Vir-
GINA University Bulletin gives an ac-
count of the Agricultural Extension
Schools and Other Agricultural Exten-
sion Work" conducted by the College
Of Agriculture. During the present
year six of these schools have been
held, with an average attendance of
about 40 at each school The interest
In these schools and the demand for
them has increased to such an extent
that this bulletin has been issued, so
that parties interested may know how
application should be made to secure
a school in their county.
What Is an Agricultural Extension
School?
An Agricultural Extension school is
not farmers institute. 1t is not a
convention. 1t is a school in the
strict sense of that word. 1t is de-
signed to afford an opportunity to the
farmers of county, young and old,
to study under two or three agricul-
tu-al experts for a week. The schools
usually last for five days, commencing
Monday and ending Friday afternoon
No books are required, except note
book. A set of the best agricultural
books is sent to each school and loan
ed to the members, who are urged to
secure those most useful to them.
Two or three competent instructors,
mostly members of the faculty of the
College of Agriculture, are sent to
each school. One or two give instruc-
ton in soil fertility and farm crops,
and one discusses animal husbandry,
dairying, or horticulture. In each case
the instructor sent is a practical ex-
pert in the subject he teaches, In ad-
dition to the faculty of the College of
Agriculture and members of the exper-
iment station staff, well-known ayr
culturists are employed to give in
struction along lines in which they
have been successful.
The instructors bring with them all
charts, pictures, and apparatus neces-
sary for properly illustrating their
work and making such experiments as
will demonstrate the principles they
discuss.
Courses Offered.
Three typical programs for extern
sion schools are given. Each of these
offers three courses, but lays empha-
CT ON, ri Of hirc no lr,y inv
ing, or horticulture, although each
gives courses in farm crops and soil
fertility. These programs will be mod
flied to meet local conditions, but in
the main these programs will be adj
hered to as closely as possible. The
College of Agriculture feels that it is
not feasible to discuss all phases of
agriculture in a single week, but that
1t is best to pay most attention to
that branch of the subject which is of
particular local interest. Thus in a
district in which fruit growing is the
leading industry or where interest in
it is being developed, horticultural
school would be held.
How To Secure a School.
The bulletin gives the rules adopt
ed by the board of regents, under
which these schools are to be held,
and states that applications should be
made as follows;
Applications for schools shall be
made on a blank form furnished by
the College of Agriculture and signed
by not less than twenty-five persons,
as provided by the rules. The appli-
cation should be in the hands OF the
dean of the College of Agriculture
by August Is, as the schedule of
schools that will be held the next sea
son will be made as soon after that
date as possible Any applications
made after August Is will only be con
sidered after the ones previously hled
have been disposed Of The university
is prepared to hold only limited num-
Der of these schools, and reserves the
right to place the schools where the
regents may decide they will be most
beneficial. 1t is desirable, therefore,
that applications be filed early, with as
large number of signers as possible.
We understand that the FUNDS when
the university has available for hold
ing these schools makes it necessary
to limit the number. Therefore, if the
farmers of this county wish such a
school during the coming fall or win
ter they should communicate with the
College of Agriculture and make appil'
cation at once.
The weather this week has been
very pleasant great relief from the