The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-01-02

Last Ten Years In United States De-
Partmcnt OF observation-disclosures
Who Study Agriculture Uncle
Sans Efforts Now Ably and E.xten-
siyely Seconded by Many of the
States - Ihirty-nine Legislatures
Last Year Made Appropriations For
Institute Worl1-Other Details.
(By THOMAS j. PENCE.)
Washington, Dec. 22.-The day
when the farmers of the country were
considered "rubes" and "hayseeds' is
fast passing into history. Records Of
the Department OF Agriculture com
piled for the last ten years indicate
in most unmistakable language that
the agriculturist. far from being back
ward and out Of date, is rapidly be
c~o1,inss one of the most enlightened
Of ali classes OF citizens.
Oac branch OF farmers wark alone
shows what they are doing. During
the past year Secretary Wilson re-
ceived reports from forty-four States
giving data regarding institute work.
LIZ - ~ SdS ~ iiCDo iioAN Iii'AA t.'N
institutes were held, the total number
Of sessions reached more than $4,000;
and the total attendance something
like 1,904,676.
Great Work Of Farmers Institutes.
The special institutes are rapidly
growing, both in Importance and in
terest. One hundred and fifty NOV
able schools is the record of attend
ance for the year with a total of 49,
900 persons visiting them. Sixty-two
railroad instruction trains were run.
covering more than $4,000 miles. with
nearly 900 expert lecturers and with
$4,000 persons visiting them. In ad-
dit;on to this Asp independent insti-
tutes were held with an attendance
of more than 10000, and fifteen
roundup institutes. continuing
through 1873 sessions, attended by 49,
900 persons. There were more than
800 picnics and conventions. and
these were attended by an aggregate
Of 10000 Industrious, ambitious
farmers, who were eager to learn all
Che Government could teach them.
Women Who Study Agriculture.
But men are not the only ones who
benefit by Uncle Sans generosity
Women, too, many Of them, are pa
tient. earnest students OF a~gricultur.
and agricultural methods, as shown
by the fact that during the last yeaT
more than Al, 900 Of them attended the
lie - l. : 4 dIIN
alrlied themselves vigorously to alb
sort the information furnished.
When it is considered that the IA
Guilty Of these institutes numbered
more than 1000 persons 1t will readily
be seen that the undertaking at the
hands Of Uncle Sam is no small one
Many States Likewise Active.
But the Government has not beer
alone in this work. Many Of tht
States. realizing that if they were t
derive Federu aid they must frs
show a dispos:t;or to help themselves
have appropriated large amounts TO,
these Institutes.
Thirty-nine State legislatures ap
propriated last year $~347,85O.57 to in
stitute work: to this there " 3 :ui1t,
by eighteen States s51,56S.75 from
other sources. making a total o
$3ss,s1s.ss. There was expended b,
fhirty-nine States for this purpose
S342.476.62. These figures show tina
the interest Of the farming people !
steadily grOWing and extending t
eu.brace new and improved lines O
effort. The movabl school, the We
mans institute, the high school,, tn
rural school, the instruction train, an
the itinerant teacher. have been oper
ating and testing their methods a
never before. and large numbers {
farming people are being reache
from day to day through thes
Tx
The Call OF the Soil
The awakening OF the country pee
pie to the need of agricultural in
struction and to the possibilities {
~Ktensio teaching has created a de
rnand for instruction far beyond tn
power Of the States to supply. tt
inadequacy Of the present equipnneI
for meeting the educational needs {
rural people has become SO apparer
that several bills have been presente
and are now pending before Congre.
looking to additional appropriation
for carrying on this work.