The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-22


perity OF the farmer and maintain an
adequate supply Of raw products for
food and for manufacturing purposes
as well
Can the new impulse be given "a
farm life which 1t so sorely needs
Can a condition Of pessimisn be
changed to one OF optimisrn7 Can
farming be put on q more profitable
basis? Can country life be made
more attractive? These are the great
and fundamental questions which re-
qulre solution at the present time.
Iney may all be answered Affirmative
~. How will these. needed changes
De accomplished? Only through edu-
cation. This education win be varied
In type and will differ In scope from
what we frequently regard as needed
because it must be designed to reach
and serve and redirect the effort OF all
classes of people who live in the coaln-
try. In other words, It must prove
efncient in serving the needs of the
growing generation Of boys and girls.
the teachers In the country schools
and the adult population in all it's
stages and no matter what form of
agricultural pursuit they are engaged
in. So much has not been asked Of
any type OF education before. for in
the past 1t has largely been called M
on to serve specialized interests. and
thus the problem was comparatively
simple.
That education can be made efrici-
ent In changing the point Of view OF
the farmer and in solving the prob
lens with which he has to deal is now
foregone conclusion. Since the farm
er has to deal chiefly with nature and
the laws which govern the universe. it
is first necessary to set to work to
unfold these. At the outset, therefore.
research is fundamental to success.
and practically every state is neglect
ing this most important of all prob
lens. New truth is what is most
sorely needed to aid the farmer and
this truth can only be secured through
patient and long-continued investiga-
ton. Experimentation is a costly
business at best. Mans intellect Is
so feeble that even when aided by all
the training which science can give
him, he must make many vain exploit
tattons before he discovers q. single
atom Of truth. The several common
wealths must realize, however. the
vital nature Of this problem and lib
orally endow research. When this is
done data with be secured and put in
the hands Of the farmer which will en-
able him to successfully contend with
the insects and diseases which attack
his crops; the methods of cultivation
and fertilization now pursued win be
revolutionized; types of plants will be
developed resistant TO disease. and
which yield much larger crops than
those grown at present The farmer
Will then become the dominant factor
IN the situation, and with the power
and inspiration which knowledge
gives, pessimism will disappear and
optimism will take it's place. Then
indeed will the farmer become a nros-
porous and successful citizen. While
we may deplore the tendency to things
material, It Is useless to expect peo-
PIE 10 I'VE In the country and to toll
IN and out OF season unless there is a |
reward TO De secured comparable with |
the expenditure or energy required to |
win 1t.
Education has given power and con-
hdence to every other line of activity
save farming. 1t win Certainly do the
same thing for the farm. After re-
search has been instituted and the So
buttons to various equations obtained
the next great problem is to place the
knowledge within the reach of ali
How shall this be done? First of all. |
agriculture must be made a feature of |
our educational system. It is true
that at present In many states a9ri |
culture is supposed to be taught. but
IL there is anything which might be
termed farce and a fraud In orr
scheme OF education, 1t is the train |
Ing offered in this the most funda-
mental OF all subjects to the welfare of
the individual and the nation as a
whole. It can be truthfully said at |
the present time that while little has
been discovered in comparison with |
what yet remains to be ascertained |
the problems Of the farm.
only one-hundredth part OF what Is
known is appreciated to any extent by
the thousands who cultivate our land |
or will in the near future. We permit |
thousands Of boys and girls to go out |
on the farms every year without |
knowing any more what has been re-
fOeiSo lhAOuSu ld16 study OF natures L
secrets than their fathers know,
We must organize agricultural edu-
cation along lines which will give 1t |
efficiency. This may be done by train |
Ing leaders through the agricultural |
colleges. These must be men OF un-
usual power and equipment. They
must go from the college into the Sec
ondary schools In order that those
who in turn will be teachers In the
common schools may have the benefit
Of their knowledge We must not con-
ane instruction in agriculture to rural |
communities because the city is as
vitality interested IN this problem as |
the country, for after all the city Is q |
part Of the transformed energy of the |
soil. Moreover, II the city through It's
representatives is to deal inteiiigently |
with the country they must be edu-
Gated to understand ITS needs. and |
then they. will be in position to assist |
in giving the sorely needed new Inn |
pulse TO rural life and activities. When |
the teachers are trained aa they ran /