The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-09-14
Tells NEEDS Of
MORE TEACHING
OF AGRICULTURE
President Soule Of Georgia Agricul-
tural College Addresses
Bankers Association
PRESENT CONDITION IS POOR
Charles A. Couant Would Form Or.
ganizaiion Of State Mort.
gage Loan Banks
PRESENT CONDITION IS POOR
Press Dispatch.

L
Detroit, Sept. 13.-The need o.
extension teaching in agriculture
what such instruction should In
clude, plans for organizing the work
involved In campaign of agricul
tural education and what has been
accomplished already, were discuss
ed today by Andrew M. Soule, Presi.
dent of the Georgia State College OF
Agriculture. Mr. Soule's address in
part follows:
The subject matter considered un-
der this caption may be divided into
four sections: first, Is there need of
extension teaching in agriculture?
second, What should extension
teaching include? third, Suggestions
for the organization of the work
along efficient line; fourth, Some
data with reference to the progress
and results attained by this method
of instruction.
''The present condition of our ag-
ficulture is unsatisfactory. 1t is
evident to the most casual observer
that a great depletion in soil fertil-
ity has taken place in recent years;
nor has the malpractice in this di-
rection been arrested. The yields
per acre of our farm crops have
fallen to an alarming degree and
this in spite of the sporadic efforts
made here and there to maintain or
increase yields on the part of the
farmer by the use of various soil
amendments. The situation is
therefore one of national concern
and the Importance of the case cam
not easily be oyerstated.
Teach Possibilit 'es.
There Is much talk at the pres
ent time of the movement back to
the land. The great need is to point
out to the land owner, and to the
boy and girl living in the country
the possibilities Of farming where
scientific policies are inaugurated,
and when this is done the urban
movement will have been check
mated.
Farmers obviously need help in
many directions, and it is esential
that it be brought to them as quick
ly as possible and in the most ac-
ceptable and easily understood man
ner. The oft-repeated suggestion
than an agricultural revolution may
be brought about is one of the facts
now as well demonstrated as man S
mastery of electricity; but little has
ever been done to put the knowl-
EIDE which is to bring about this de-
sirable result in an acceptable form
within the reach of those who must
possess 1t If the end sought is to be
attained. Intelligent consideration
calls for a definition of what ex-
tension teaching may properly in
clude. Generally speaking, 1t may
be regarded as method of dissent
mating information on all topics re-
lated to agriculture in the broadcast
sense of the word
OhuSi INSTRUCTION.
may be included what is known as
the extension school which under
takes, as its name shows, Ito carry
on definite instructions along GER
tain lines into a given community
for period of three days to q
month. This is probably one of the
most efficient forms of extension
teaching which can be inaugurated
in any state.
"The experimental farm or def
mite soil test area will follow next in
Importance. Correspondence courses
would be found helpful. The lecture
and reading course will also be
found helpful in mnny communities.
In other instances study clubs NAV
be formed, and last but not least
under this division would be ranked
the work of the boys and girls
clubs.
Farmers Institute Efficient.
Under the head of informal
teaching probably the most efficient
agency Is the farmers institute.
Then would come the farmers week
generally arranged for at the Agri-
cultural College Conferences of one
kind or another may be arranged
either at the college or in various
local centers. The occasional lee
ture would come under this head.
Under object lesson teaching may
be grouped the farm demonstration
work, the special train, the fair ex-
hibit, the educational excursion and
Concluded on Pare TVn1