Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-11-27
Agricultural Education


general government and the various
States of the Union began The found
ing of agricultural colleges. The
need of agricultural education was
recognized and it was supposed
that the agricultural colleges would
supply the need.
Without belittling the work of the
agricultural colleges it must be said
that they have not fully met the
Meet. The complaint was made that
they were too much given TO i'm
practicable theories; in other words
they did not get down to the actual
needs of the farmers.
have in mind a case which / think
will illustrate what / mean: Two
friends of mine who did not pretend
to have much knowledge of agricul-
ture, decided that they could make
some money raising cucumbers to be
sold TO pickle factory. They pre-
pared the ground and planted the
seed. The cucumber vines came up
all right but they were scarcely out
sof the ground before three or four
varieties of bugs assailed them. My
TWO friends wrote TO the agricultural
college for advice. They got advice
in the shape of lengthy pamphlets
treating on bugs in general and on
bugs which assailed cucumber vines
in particular. When these two
friends of mine finished their calcula-
tions of the cost of following the in,
Instructions Of the agricultural col
IL, ~ = ~,
better of financially if they would
abandon their enterprise altogether.
The advice was about as practicable
as the ad vice of the man who had
plan to rid dogs of feas. His plan
was TO catch the fieas, dip their
noses in snuff and let them sneeze
their heads off.
Farmers also complained that in
structions sent out by the college did
not fit their conditions either of soil
or of climate. An experiment that
might work out certain way on the
agricultural college farm would not
necessarily work out the same way
100 or 200 miles from Manhattan. All
this tended TO create preju lice "a
gainst agricultural education. The
fault was not however, with the
theory of agricultural education but
the way in which it was being oper
aued. If the agricultural college is
to justify the expense of its upkeep
it must get next to the farmers in
every section of the state and demon
straue by actual experiment that it
can help the farmer 10 raise better
crops; better stock: to make more
money out of his land and at the
same time retain the fertility of the
land.
PUT 1T INTO THE SCHOOLS
The ideas of bringing agricultural
education to their farmers and their
children has resulted in making the
study of agriculture a part OF the
common school course Here again
the experiment is likely TO prove
disappointment. The greater part
of our common school teachers are
immature girls and boys, mostly girls
Now / submit that the teaching of
the science of agriculture given by
young woman school teacher of IL or
Is is not hkely TO be of great benefit.
and the same thing may be said OF
the average young man teacher
We need the agricultural education
but we are not going 10 get it under
the present plan. in my opinion
have mind. however, plan which
i think would give the desired result
L would establish consolidated
schools. say in each congressional
township, although that division OF
territory might be changed 70 suit
conditions With each consolidated
school would go not less than so acres
OF land 10 be used as an experimental
farm and orchard
IL would be well for the agriculture
al college 10 keep in touch with ali Of