The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-02-01

"A that a. well GispCsed. and. spplewha
elderly farmer Of Montgomery count
went 10 Ames to attend tha White
short course He was impressed b
two great features OF the e6ufse' 1t
great value was the first thing he re
cognized Here were marshaled i
close array an army OF facts tina
every farmer of his community woul'
profit by knowing. The second BIZ
truth that dawned upon the Mont
gomery man was the fact that he wa
the only man there from Montgomer.
county. Where were his neighbour
and friends? At home at work on thu
farm. They had no time to go t.
school. The farmer asked II the peo
pie of my county can't come to thu
short course why can't the 'shor
course come to them?" He wen
home with his plan, talked 1t up ant
thus il came about that shorI
course was organized by the Anne:
school and taken to Montgomery
Ecounty. The first outside short course
in the United States was held at Rec
Oak, Iowa, in January, 1905. II was
a remarkable success from the start
but the college people did not recog
nize what a great thing il was to be
come. The following year Montgom
cry county insisted upon a repetition
/ of the course. A second school waj
| held by the same corps of instructors
a. Lenox, in Taylor county, with Q
repetition of the success scored at
Red Oak. Next year Mt. Pleasant. IN
Henry county, cried, me, too" and
Joined in with Red Oak and Lenox.
In the winter of 19O7-0S, so great
had become the demand for the work
that a mo,e elaborate course was or
ganized and a corps Of eleven in
structors was sent out. The women
also asked TO be helped and hence 1t
came about that Domestic Science
was made par Of the work in con
nection with stock Judging and les
sons for men folks. That year as
many short courses were given as
was possible to handle. Next was
originated the idea OF the corn train
that went about the state spreading
the knowledge of corn. Then follow.
ed the dairy and stock trains and
the breakfast bacon spec ial." The
missionary work done among the
farmers of the state bror ght abund,
ant harvest with the result that the
state college was flooded with insist
nd
more short courses. This season,
1912, starting as early as possible
three corps of instructors have been
at work in all parts of the state and
will continue the weekly engage
ments up TO March 9. The corps OF
workers now engaged in Oskaloosa
have been constantly at work since
December 4.
Ames college has been greatly ben.
Gifted by the Iowa short course idea.
1t has promoted the college and its
work and has advertised the institu'
ton in a way that was not otherwise
possible.
We do not know where this thing
will end" said Professor r. X. Bliss,
one of the instructors in charge of the
Mahaska school. The demand for
the instruction is now greater than
We can accommodate with our pres
ent working facilities and force of in
structorS. We hope to be able to en-.
large upon the idea, but We must
have more help. Every moment OF
our time is occupied and we are
dated months ahead. We have no
day OF rest. Even Sunday We are
recalled at Ames by matters reQuir'
ing our presence, nor do We dare take
a day OF for ourselves and have no
time to be ILL.,"
We are enthusiastic over the work
and we are able to see the great good
we are accomplishing. II does not
grow monotonous, for we like il and
have as much interest in our part as
the people to whom We talk take in
theirs.
Blemished Horses.
One of the new features OF this
years course is the exhibition OF
blemished horses. Two hundred or
more students of the course, men and
boys gathered at the Mcclure gara?e
at 2 o'clock and crowded the accom-
modations that had been provided
for the class. An ampitheatre has
been constructed furnishing seating
capacity, but many extra chairs were
brought and many attendants were
standing throughout the lecture OF
Professor Bliss. Farmers had been
previously asked to bring in blemish-
ed horses for the purposes of the ex'
hibit. Gratifying response was made
to this appeal and the spirit OF those
who furnished the animals for the
show is to be commended. The insti-
tute management and The short
course people acknowledge obliga
tions. About a dozen animals were
brought into the ring and almost all
blemishes were clearly demonstrated
and were examined by each individ
ual OF the class.
DR.. +. F. Parker, Oskaloosa's we'll
known veterinary surgeon, had place
on the program of the afternoon and
told of methods of treatment in an
Interesting and most active way
There were two classes for this ex
L;h;, lnr;na the aftarnnnn tho Gpr