Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-04-19
(By ". \. Trcnckmann.l

General extension work J. on rather
unique lines. No correspondence courses
are offered, and the extension people ain
To do lust a. little ~ j. absolutely nece~-
sary. but to stimulate the organ ~ each
locality which can and ought To- TO the
work. They go when they are called and
calls for their services ~ lecturers. teach
err and demonstrators are numerous. The
demand for agricultural extension 4
especially strong. and not L. be- denied.
Each county IN Illinois ha> a Farmers in
stiiute. These institutes are 4 powerful
factor IN the marked agricultural progress
of the state. ~ recognition ot this each
receives $40 per annum from the state.
They conduct county fairs, hold meetings
and send out much literature tor their own
and each and every institute has two great
aims FIRST that the particular county in
which il j. located should continue Ia lead
all others IN farming. second. that Illinois
should continue ahead of Hll other ~tatc-.
and especially of her western uri.hb"r.
Iowa, IN agricultural production. Their
falr~ are on a magnificent scale. and while
horse racing. public pagcant>, dancing.
merry making and carnival attractions are
drawing thousands. the iarmcr~ come to
see the agricultural and stock exhibitions.
To- buy bloolcd stock and good seed and
to listen To- addresses aud demonstrations
on farming. Al the fairs aud Institute
meetings. the college men are IA constant
demand. However, they 10 not only give
advice but they ask II from the farmer
and take It. The leading farmer ~organIla-
iIon> select a board 81 advisers and this
body frequently makes suggestions 10 the
college agriculturl>ts which represent the
earnest desires Of the farmers and are
readily complied with.
For instance. last year. w the Suggestion
of tins body. the college sent an expert an
am extended tour IA study the live stock
industry of South America. IN January
the Corn Growers and The Nturkmrn'~
convention brings Together for one week
The leading farmers - the state ~ the cul-
lcee for discussion and study. A wealthy
Illinois farmer. ~un ni former Wee prr-i-
dent Adlai T.. Stevenson. la-i year insisted
that hi forty icna4t- should attend this
meeting ~ a body. and paid halt oi their
expense; many other landlords are dulns
likewise.
Twenty extension schools were conduct
Ell la~t year "a the extension department
aud had an average attendance 81 500 men
aud women. Housekeeping extension ~
most invariably accompanies agricultural
extension work. Within one wear the IN
tcrurban demonstration tram 80 the cnl-
lcgc. carrying fine sheep and poultry
reached $4,000 Illinois ~clul children al
the DOR at their ~rhol houses along inter
urban llnc>. The extension department.
Just az present. o. engaged m y vigorous
campaign with the object 81 causing farm
cr> Ia improve the productive capacity "t
their land by the application ~ lime. The
state pcnitcntlaric- ~ present are grinding
limestone. that J. disposed of To- farmers
NJ = very low price. One institute meeting
resulted IN placing orders Tor 10 carloads
of this broken limestone and four carloads
ui roack phosphate. Fifteen hundred and
thiriv-four farmers last year attend the
two week. winter short courses III the az
riculiural college. aud 1903 farmers boys
who had won Judging prizes IL county
fairs came with al expenses paid by farm
cr>' Institutes. was informed that the
extension men. n a rule. are not college
men. or II they are college graduates. they
must have hail n least i've years 81 farm
ing experience previous 10 their present