Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-10-16
boys ATTRACTED BY
SCIENTIFIC FARMING
Modern Methods Tend to Keep
the Country Youth at Home.
EDUCATION IS The SOLUTION
BY e. c. PERIsHO, President State
College.

y g ~ T3HtoHOS FTo0'oent Stdts
College.
The big problem in South Dakota
and it is equally true elsewhere, is
to do something, and do it now
which will guarantee that our young
men will stay on the farm. This is
an age OF progress and scientific de
velopmsnt. Boys, like men, are am
bilious. They want to be where more
important events are being accom-
plished. They must be a factor in
doing big things. Many a young mar
feels that to do this he must leave the
farm, which to him is a place OF
~drudgery and certainly o the posi-
ton of exceptional opportunity.
The fact is farm work should not
be drudgery, and farm life is the best
Of opportunities. The boy on the
farm should understand how big the
field of agriculture really is. Let
him know that as he cultivates the
corn he is helping to produce in this
country a yearly crop which would
sell for enough money to pay the cost
OF digging four Panama canals. Show
him that he is one of the producers
in the United States who is yearly
increasing the wealth If the nation
by almost $40, OOO, OOO, 900. Give him the
knowledge Of the Importance of his
work, and show him the need Of do
ing 1t as it should be done, and you
will put a new thrill of inspiration in
to his life, which will make him not
only pleased, but satisfied with his
farm life.
The farmer boy, as well as his
father, must be shown by actual
demonstration, not simply told:
l. That it is both easy and profit
able to test seed corn.
2. That we'll bred seed of all kinds
is cheap, even at a high price.
8. That it pays to grow ear-pro-
ducing stalks In every hill.
4. That 1t is just as expensive t.
keep a poor colt as a good one.
8. That a scrub pig eats as much
as a finely bred one.
6. That the growth of the hog or
steer will be greatly increased. at
less cost, if you feed them alfalfa and
clover instead of so much corn and
bran.
Z. That it requires as much time
and effort to keep a 3k per cent but
ter fat COW as it does a 5Hs per cent
one. One Is a loss, the other a great
profit to the farmer.
8. That more cows and silos, moro
hogs, corn and alfalfa, and less
acknowledgement moth Is the bet
ter farm policy.
9. That scientific feeding is a vital
part OF scientific farming. Some peo-
pie have now learned that the auan.
tity and quality of the milk depends
upon the quantity and quality of the
food eaten by the COW.
10. That there must be a scientific !
rotation of crops If you would main \
tain the fertility of the soil.
II. That alfalfa will not only en-
rich the soil, but it will furnish the |
cheapest food for horses, cattle, hogs |
sheep and chickens.
IL. That the grain and all forage |
crops should be fed on the farm, not
sold. Many do not know that every |
horse or COW On the farm will add APP
$40 worth of manure
a year to the enrichment of the fields, |
If properly saved and used. !
13. That nature has given to the
a rich fertile soil and then
supplies, without cost, all the ele-
ments to produce a crop, with the ex-
ception of three little ingredients,
nitrogen. phosphorus and potassium.
Our state college not only maintains
a splendid equipment in men and IA
to teach and demonstrate |
scientific farming and stock raising, |
dairy production, ETC., in
a regular four years course, but it is
also offering to the farm boys, who
have zen unable to get a high school
education, the exceptional opportu-
nifty to come to the college and take
what is known as the School of Agri-
course. This course begins in
after the heavy fall work
On the farm is done, and closes the
first Of April, in time for the young
man to get back on the farm for the
blowing and planting. The
young men and women taking this
short course have all the advantages
provided by the state when they go
Bookings for their work. They
are not only welcome, but we are all
broud of our school IF a~pricu1tura