Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-03-08
Many Inquiries.

Brookings.-Last year the Soutb
Dakota State colleges at Brookinge
mailed $500 letters in response tn
inquiries throughout the state. Most
of these inquiries have been for ex-
pert'adVlce on some matter relating to
the business of fruit growing, ami.
NAL breeding, the raising of crons
dairy industry, insect pests, veterinary
troubles. household economies, me
chanics, and engineering. At the
rate Of So letters per day the PROBES
sors OF the State college are meeting
the call OF the citizens OF South
Dakota for information on various and
vital perpleXing questions This de-
monstrates that the South Dakota
state college is probably one Of the
most important public servants Of the
state.
The Department of Animal HuS-
bandry. under the direction of Prof.
essor Wilson, answered nearly 10000
inquiries last year relative to some
features of animal breeding, stallion
reeistratOn, etc. Professor Hansen of
the Horticultural Department answer
ed close to 400 inquiries regarding
problems in fruit breeding and alfalfa.
Professor Hume of the AgronOmy De
nartment dictated about $500 letters
relative to crops and soils in all sec
tions of the state. Dr. Brigham Of
the School Of Agriculture carried On
a heavy correspondence relative TO
the shorter, three year course in agri-
culture, and correspondence educa-
ton. Professor Larsen, and Mr..
Ryger of the Dairy Husbandry De
partment and office of the State Dairy
Expert, sent out about 1000 letters
answering inquiries pertaining to the
dairy industry. The Botany and EntU-
mology Department, under the direc~
ton of Dr.. Olive, and Professor Sev-
erin, also answered nearly 1000 in
uuiries eIatiVe to the protection Of
crops against wood pests, insect and
animal pests, etc. Dr.. Moore of the
Veterinary Department, was constant
w besieged with inquiries for advice
on the treatment OF diseases of live
stock. The remainder OF the CORES
pOndence was quite evenly divided
among the departments or engineer
MS, IOhlS SNoAoIl4iNo, "ltHi
nj, and the office OF the president.
The Chemistry Department is fire.
Quently requested TO analyze stones
and ores with the hope that the send
er has found a valuable mineral de
post. Professor Shepard reports,
however, hat he is obliged to give
Disappointing replies TO nearly all OF
these inquiries.
1t may be readily seen thai the
average professor at the State col
lege who Is obliged to handle this
correspondence in addition TO his reg
ular class work is an extremely busy
man. The Importance OF the work OF
the various departments in giving
first hand and expert replies to the
thousands OF inquiries which pour i'll
annually can not be oVer-eStimated.
Several of the professors were inter
viewed as to thei opinion regarding
the matter Of correspondence, and in
stead Of suggesting that they were
weary of it tney stated that they
wished that more people in the state
would avail themselves Of the oppOr-
tunity. The information is here, and
any person in the state who is beyond
the student age, or nable to attend
the State college, may at any time re
ceive information by writing any of
the various departments for it. In
fact, although the State college is al
ready getting close to the people,
she can do more for the state if the
people will get closer to the college