The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-03-22
FARM EDUCATION
TO Be EXTENDED

Washington, D. C., March 22.-Con-
gress is studying with exceptional in
terest a measure which is supported
by leading interests and prominent
people throughout the land and has
been justly described as one of the
most important pieces of legislation
since the time of the Civil War. Known
in the senate as the Smith bill and in
the house as the Lever bill, it is
measure providing for appropriations
for extension of agricultural education,
in cooperation with the respective
state agricultural colleges and each
state providing an equal amount of
support vth government. The bill
prepared ~ the National Soil Fertility
League, executive committee of
the agricultural colleges and Mr.. Lever
aims to conserve the highest efficiency
of the agricultural resources of the
country and rehabilitate the waning
soil fertility of the United States, as
shown by statistics. General approval
is given the plan by which the methods
of the department of agriculture, agri-
cultural colleges and experiment sta
tions will be explained by field demon
stration, under the supervision of a
trained farm demonstrator. the farm
ers in every case doing the actual
work By this close contact expert
ence shows that these farmers quickly
grasp the essential features and eager
ly follow them, as it increases their
net income and builds up their soil as
WE'LL BY this arrangement he learns
and demonstrates for himself the best
and cheapest methods for obtaining
the heaviest and most stable crop re-
suits, the essential laws of farm effici-
ency and gains the knowledge of those
who can spare the time for full col
lege education along these lines.
The committee on agriculture of
both house and senate is giving every
copsideration to the measure. Before
them have appeared within the past
few days DR.. W. O. Thompson, presi-
dent of the Ohio university; DR.. K. l..
Butterfield, president of the Massachu-
setts agricultural college; DR.. Andrew
NJ. Souie, president of the Georgia
state college of agriculture; Howard
H. Gross. president of the National
Soil Fertility League; Ex-Governor
Myron T. Herrick of Ohio; Oliver Will
son of Peoria, ILL.,, Nj. Master of the
National Farmers Grange; Dean H. L.
Russell of Wisconsin: H. H. Edwards,
president of the Rhode Island agricul-
tural college; Joseph Chapman, chair
man of Northwestern Bankers Com
mittee and number of others.
The consensus of opinion, as ex-
pressed by these authorities, leads to
the conclusion that it is of vital inn
portance to the food resources of the
United States that this form of educa-
tion should be carried direct to the
farmers; that the lines of production
and demand are rapidly approaching
each other and unless there is change
in the methods of farming there must
soon be a readjustment of the meth
DDS OF living; that the application of
farm science" in European countries
and many sections of this country has
demonstrated the high percentage of
gain in production as well as lower
ing the cost and at the same time inn
proving soil, and insuring the food
supply of coming generations. 1t was
agreed that the work must be nation
allied, that the farmers will welcome
such enlightenment and instruction,
that the higher education will add both
profit and dignity to the vocation and
tend to keep the younger generations
on the farm. that the industrial
sciences and practices have advanced
hand in hand while agricultural science.
has out-run the methods of farming;
that the cost Of bringing the results of
research and experiment direct to the
farmer is a mere bagatelIe compared
with benefits. 1t would reduce the
cost of living on the one hand and in
crease the farmers profit on the other
and is the greatest single factor in the
solution of the most serious problem
Of the country today, viz; How to