Evening journal., 1915-03-02
AgricnIinraI Extenslon.

In speaking of agricultural eXten-
sion the report says:
"rhe Agricultural Extension work
of the college for which special APP
preparations have been made by the
two last sessions of General Assem-
bly, has been satisfactory. Much has
been accomplished and many farmers
of the State have availed themselves
of the opportunities offered to pro-
mote the welfare of this great indus
try.
"The work has grown and the de-
mand upon the time of those of the
station staff assigned to extension
duty has been so great to seriously
interfere with their work as investi-
gators. The policy of the extension
division for the past year has been
similar to that of the year previously
reported upon A number of new CO.
operative experiments have been un-
dertaken and much interest has been
developed in some of the new crops
and in new methods of tillage, new
rotations, renovation Of orchards, etc
"By inaugurating the work Of the
agricultural extension division, the
State has kept in line with most OF the
other States of the Union. Through
its efforts in this direction, it has
contributed its share towards secur-
ing from the National Government rec
ognition for the greater movement oi
agricultural extension. This is gen.
erously expressed in the Smith-Lever
bill. which become law by the Pres
ident's signature, May s, 1914
Alssa s.4N
Delaware will receive from the Ma
tiOnal Treasury, an annual appropria-
ton of $4,000. If the State will ap-
propriate S1,2S1, in the year 1856,
and an additional S1,2S1 each year for
seven years, the Federal Government
agrees to appropriate a similar
amount in addition to the annual ap-
preparation of $4,000 These appro-
priations. by 1922, will give to Della
ware for extension work in agricul-
tural and home economies a yearly
sum of S2S,000. of which $4,000 will
come from the Federal and $4,000
from the State Treasury. II is impOs-
sible to estimate the potential good
which will be accomplished with this
amount in a State no larger than Del
aware The possible effect of such a
sum we'll spent upon the social con-
ditions of the State, the schools and
upon the actual returns from the soil
are incalculable."
Change for Farmers Day.
The report suggests a change as to
Farmers Day. which has grown in
popularity of late years. It follows
''While Farmers Day has been very
useful in bringing the work of the
college to the attention of its con-
stituency, the time has now come
when a radical change should per
haps be made in its conduct It is
doubtful if Farmers Day now serves
any particular educational purpose
for the majority Of those in attend
ance. With such large numbers OF
pleasure bent il is difficult, If not inn
possible, to gain or hold the attention
of a large proportion of the crowC
for a serious demonstration. or ever
for an address by a gifted speaker
upon a serious subject. The con
sequence is that, measured by educa
tional standards, the day is not Civ
ing the result that the earlier Farm
ers' Days did. The thought has sug
gested itself that more satisfactor!
results could be obtained by having
a day set aside for each county of thu
State: a day when the farmers o
each of the three counties would II
turn be invited TO the State farm, L
the end that they might come int
close contact with the several activi
ties that are being carried on. Visit
ors could then be divided into groups
with an instructor in charge. thul
affording an opportunity for discus
sion that for the past few years hai
been impossible. Il is thought tha
this plan can be worked out satisfac
torily, especially with the aid an'
cooperation of the county agents, an,
il is hoped that the trustees vii
sanction the proposed change"
The State Farm.
"That the State, no one who know
the number of its interested visitor
will deny, and it is safe to assum
that il is doing much to stimulate in
terest in agriculture and in bette
farm methods.
"While the State farm may be con
sidered a show place, it can in n
sense of the word be looked upon as
Model farm. Any commercially sue
cessful farm is a model farm. Tn
State farm can not be a model farm
because its function is to work on
principals of farm practice, to ties
new plants. and to determine the ad
: tpo,faOac and -.