Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-09-14
EXTENSION TEACHING
IN AGRICULTURE
BANKERS HEAR ADDRESS BY
ANDREW SOULE
President of Georgia Agricultural
COLLEGE, Speaks to American Bank
ers' Association Need of Scientific
Training for Farming.
Associated Press.


he work involved in campaign of
agricultural education and what has
been accomplished already. were dis
cussed today by Andrew M Soule,
president of the Georgia State Col
lege Of Agriculture. Mr. Soule's ad-
dress in part follows:
''The subject matter considered
under this caption may be divided
into four sections: frs. Is there
need of estension teaching in agri-
culture? Second. What should extern
sion teaching include? Third, Sug-
| gesionS for the organizatio of the
work along efficient lines; fourth
Some data with reference to the
progress and result attained by this
method Of instruction
"The present condition Of our ag-
riculture is unsatisfactory. 1t is evil
| dent TO the most casual observer that
a great depletion in soil fer ility has
taken place in recent years; nor has
the malpractice in this direction been
arresed. The yields per acre OF orr
farm crops have fallen to an alarNn-
| ing degree and this in spite of tho
sporadic efforts made here and there
to maintain or increase yields on the
part Of the farmer by the use of var
| ious soil amendments The situation
is therefore one of national concern,
| and the Importance Of the case can
not easily be overstated.
Application Of Science to Farming.
"Thre is much talk at the present
time of the movement back To the
| and. The great need is to point out
| 70 the land owner, and to the hoy and
| @irl living in the country the 20
sibjlities of farming where scientific
policies are inaugurated, and when
| this is done the urban movement will
have been checkmai' ed.
Farmers obviously need help in
many directions. and it is essential
| that it be brought to them as quickly
IS possible and in the most accept
| able and easily understood manner.
| The oft-repeated suggestion thai an
agricultural revolution may be
| brought about is one Of the facts now
as well demonstrated az mans mas
| terry Of electricity: br little has been
| done to put the knowledge which rs
| to bring about this desirable result
| in an acceptable form within the
reach Of those who must possess it if
the end sought is to be attained. In
| telligent consideration calls for a
| definition of what extension teach
ing may properly include. Generally
speaking, it may be regarded as a
method Of disseminating information
l ,1I - 81 ~ Il -,
| the broadea' sense Of the word
| Under systematic instruction NAV
| be included what is known as the eX-
tension school. which undertakes az
| It's name shows. to carry on defirite
instructions along certain lines into
a given community for period Of
three davs to q month This is nr1b-
ably one Of the mot efficient forms
of extension teaching which can be
inaugurated in any state.
Soil Test.
"The experimental farm or definite
soil test area will follow next in i'm
| portance. Correspondence courses
would be found helpful The lecture
and reading course will also be found
| helpful in many communities. In
other instances study clubs may be
formed. and last but not least under
this division would be ranked the
work Of the boys and girls clubs.
Informal Teaching.
Under the head Of informal teach
ing probably the most efficient agency
is the farmers institute. Then
| . 60, oly
orally arranged for at the Agricul-
tural College conferences of one kind
and another may be arranged either
at the college or in various local
centers. The occasion lecture would
come under this head.
Demonstration Work.
Under object lesson teaching may
be grouped rhe farm demonstration
work. the special train. the fair ex-
hibit. the educational excursion and
| publications. These should include
the press bulletins sent out weekly
or monthly, the leaflet or agricultnr-
al periodical. series of popular bull
letins, and travelling agricuD ural
libraries.
"The work must be carefully or
ganized and efficiently manned whore
effective service is contemplated. The
men chosen for this line of work
must be experts in fact and reality.
In the administration Of the work il
will be we'll 40 have an executive
secretary or a director Of the eXten-
sion service with a staff of men and
!. clerks under his control This con-
. stitutes the nucleus for the organiza-
tion and direction of work. TIL ex-
perts needed in agronCmy, horticul-
ture. animal huSbandry. agricuh uraI
: chemistry. etc. will be delegated
. from the members of the specialized
stats of these departments by the
heads of the same on request OF the
extension director
Cooperative Work.
I I'm organizing extension work
. within the confines of any state, the
college should. Of course. undertake
to establish a satisfactory relation
ship with all other agencies at work
therein These agencies may include