The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1911-11-01
OPPORTUNITIES Afforded by an Agricul-
tural Course.
(From Idaho Country Life


To gain some idea of the opportuni-
ties an agricultural course affords, one
has but to survey the openings that
present themselves to the man, who.
by his training, is fitted to successfully
grapple with present day agricultural
problems. To gain an idea of the
scope of an agricultural course and the
demands for it, one must of course
have an intelligent understanding of
the many and varied problems con-
fronting the present day agricultural
ist. Surely no one who fully realizes
the nature. of these problems and who
grasps the value and Importance of
the problems that have been solved,
will hesitate to recognize agriculture
not only as one of the professions, but
that profession where endless oppor-
tunities are as yet hardly realized.
In numerous localities in many of
our states land is now selling at such
price that to make successful farm
ing possible means abandonment of old
style methods and the application of
the later and most approved principles.
For largest returns one must give the
same attention to minute details that
one would expect of the successful
banker or lawyer.
No man planning his own medical
course could hope for much future
success as physician, if, in that
course he neglected to make some pro-
vision for the study of anatomy, medi-
cine and bacteriology; so no man ex-
pecting to take up agricultural work
should expect the fullest measure of
success nor the largest returns if in
preparing for his work he neglected
securing some knowledge of bacteria,
physics, chemistry, and he must know
how to apply this knowledge in the
breeding of animals, the care of the
soil, and the growing crops. AS an
example of the vast possibilities along
one line, mention may be made of the
fact that one man, Prof. Holden, of
Iowa, by his scientific knowledge of
corn and the principles governing the
proper selection of seeds succeeded in
raising the yield of corn in one state
alone in one year over 100000
bushels.
There is now a strong demand for
men of agricultural training to assume
the. management of large estates, to
become superintendent of large stock
farms, or large farms where pure seeds
are grown. | have in mind a profess
sor of agronomy who resigned his
college position to take the manage
ment of pure seed corn farm in ILL
nois at salary something over $1,000.
The demand for trained men to act
as managers or butter makers of large
is such that good men have
but to finish short course to be sure
of positions. The value of a course in
Dalrying can be well illustrated by
the actual accomplishment of a Young
agricultural graduate who assumed the
superintendency of an eastern cream
cry. By his scientific knowledge of
cream ripening,' control of mois-
ture content and exhaustive churn-
in was able to save for his conpany
something like $4,000. Is
It any wonder that men "who know"
can command good salaries? Oppor-
-unities, possibly as great, present
themselves to the one interested in the
of live stock, purse seeds of
various kinds, or of the one interested
n horticultural work.
The healthfulness of an out door
profession surely should appeal to
many especially now that the cities
'oasted advantages such as telephones,
nail delivery, and car service are the
privileges of many rural COMMUNE
les.
So far only the advantage of an
agricultural course in practical sense
lave been mentioned. Opportunities
'qually attractive are open to the agri-
cultural graduate desiring career as
'rofessor of Investigator agricultural
st. Many of the eastern states in com
'llance with the popular demand, have
lready established number of agri-
ultural high schools. Bills, backed
y powerful influence, are now pend
ng in congress looking toward the
of several secondary
gricultural schools in each state. It
will undoubtedly be but a question of
short time until these schools will be
established and their success or failure