Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-10-09
BACK TO THE FARM
Department Of Agriculture Organic
ing Classes to Study Farming

Washington. D. c.. Oct. Stalking a
miniature agricultural college course
directly back to the farm" is new en-
terprise Of the government and various
states. according to recent announcement
of the department Of agriculture.
Formation of home classes Of farmers
and farm women for rural instruction
without having them step foot off their
own doorstep is the plan. Glasses of ten
or more farmers or farm women will be
organized for home instruction in farming
and domestic science. and will be furnish
ed textbooks. lectures. lantern slides and
laboratory and cooking equipment. in
cooperation with state agricultural colleges
experiment stations and the department.
"The cbjset Of the plan" the department
announces, "is to make accessible at home
to men and women who have not the
time to attend the regular courses in COL
leges, practical short courses in agriculture
and home management especially adapted
to- their district.
These courses will consist Of from Is
to 20 lectures and will consume five or
more weeks and can be arranged to suit
the spare time and convenience of each
group of people,
Initial courses will be offered in farm
bookkeeping. poultry raising.fruit growing.
soils. cheese making and for women in
cooking and preparing various foods.
States which have agreed to cooperate
in the plan will lend laboratory and cook
ing apparatus and reference library to
the various groups.
When ''home class" is organized, a
state agent and representative of the de-
partment Of agriculture will be supped-to
lay out the work for some leader" in the
class.
Morning and afternoon sessions of the
class will be held until the local leader
qualities. Time will be given for all
members to take care of household and
farm duties. The students will meet at
some neiahbors farm house.
Sessions will only be held two or three
days week. Textbook work will be
the morning schedule and laboratory and
cooking instruction in the afternoon.
As there will be no regular paid teach
ers. classes can be carried on as fast as
state organizers can give preliminary in
struction. All students who complete the
courses will reesive certificate from the
state college.
| That the home study plan is much bet
ter than correspondence courses has been
amply demonstrated. according to Secre-
tary Houston Of the department.
To meet this demand and also to en-
joouraRe the study of rural education and
of rural welfare subjects on the part of
members of oranges, farmers unions,
rural churches, country life clubs. and all
organic atoms and individuals interested
in rural problems number of such nom
resident courses will be offered during
the year lel4-lel5 by the ColoradoAg-
riculture college. The books and bulletins
used in these courses deal largely with
the problems of rural education, the rural
church. agriculture and stock raising.
rural economics. and rural social problems
A folder describing these will be mail
ed upon request. The department OF
rural and Industrial education Of the Ag-
ricuItural College will give any assistance
it can in conducting these courses and in
organizing others to meet specific needs
where there is demand for them.