University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1914-01-22
(This is the third Of q series Of VO.
catiOnal Talks.

ture or any of its allied occupation.
This is the consensus of opinion an
the point of emphasis by Dean F.
Mumford, Prof. f. A. TrOwbridge an,
Dr. ]. c. Whitten of the Missouri Col
lege of Agriculture.
Aside from a thorough technica
knowledge of his occupation" salt
Dean Mumford, "a farmer should have
good innate business ability He does
much buying and selling. which are
necessary operations in the business
Then he should have a course in eco
Monies so that he can understand the
/ forces that make market conditions
Good business sense is born in a man
and not made. Where it does exist it
should be cultivated and made more
efficient, especially as competition is
now so fierce.
Formerly farmers of very little ed
ucation or preparation made a great
success in the work. But such success
is no longer possible. These early
farmers came at time when land was
very cheap and during their lives saw
il increase in value greatly, sometimes
as much as hundred times. Now
that land is higher and competition
closer. better preparation is neces-
sary
The man with a good technical ed
ucation has great advantage He
has not only a knowledge of the most
efficient and scientific methods and the
theory of agricultural processes. but
also the accumulated experience of the
ages in his store of knowledge. while
the farmer who does not go to an
agricultural college has only the i'm
mediate experience back of him.
Aside from farming there are a
of allied occupations into
which a graduate of college of agri-
culture can go. There are such posi-
tions as managers of large estates, |
farm advisers, manufacturers experts |
in shops that deal with agriculture.
and government and state positions. |
A recent graduate of the college took
a position as salesman of fertilizer for
4 large corporation. Through his
of agriculture he was able
% tell the farmers of his district lust
what particular kind of fertilizer each
needed. That was much more than
he average salesman could do. Con-
he built up large trade for
lis company in the district on account
# the faith the farmers had in him.
The company soon found out the cause
# the increased sales and in few
months after he began working he {
vas made district sales-manager. The Z.
ompany has written to the college for
lOre such men,
The demand for such agricultural
xperts by concerns that deal with 5
armers is far greater than the supply. 7
or such positions man should have t
good general education, especially
economics, back of his technical ed
cation. b
Another good position that is now A
eing developed is that of county farm
wiser. 1t is one of large opportunity
opportunity is usually measured,
ut it is one of opportunity for men s.
ability who are willing to devote
emselves to life of service. For
lch position a man must have a al
Orough. all-rOund technical educa- D
On in agriculture. He needs to be te
oroughly grounded in the sciences.
ersonally he should have those quail
es that make teacher or leader p
men.
"A man in such position has great
sponsibility. He should have more
an an interest in his technical work, We
should be interested also in the w
of the community. When such a Ri
IN is successful in his regular work
people have confidence in him in
Ter ways and he should be a wise re
der. He ought to know economies u
d rural sociology and through them
lp to make the life of the country
ter Such man ought to have an sill
round education also. To be a 70
Do leader man must have a knowl-
se of many branches of learning. He
st have literary as well as techni- wa
education. In many counties this Ou
n is the biggest man in the coun- He
To be a good farmer a man must
'reclate the Out-of-dOors." said DR.
:. Whitten of the horticultural de-
tment. The first qualification for COZ
nan going into any kind of work Hi
ether it is farming or the particu-
branch of farming called horticuI-
e. or any other kind of work. is that ,
must have liking for that kind of roc
H. So the first qualification for a
her is love of nature.
The good horticulturist must look =
N a tree as plastic. growing. Iiv- Gui
being. not as so much dead matter 400
Is machine He must Sao in &, n