The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-21
Purdue Expert Praises Work of
Agricultural Schools.
Farmers Institute Spreads I'm
pOrtant Farm knowledge.
COUNTY ADVISER BIG ASSET
Education Trains Serve to
Arouse Community Spirit.
Washington Tried to Establish
Agricultural Department.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct Elbow the
farmer has been helped by the agr1-
cultural college was described by Prof
G. l. Christie, agricultural expert of
Purdue university, in paper entitled
Taking the College to the Farm,
which he delivered before the National
Farmers congress here. Professor
Ghristie's address included a survey
of agricultural extension work from
the time when President George Wash
ington, who was also a farmer, tried
in vain to induce congress to establish
a department of agriculture for the
betterment of farm conditions, down
to 1914, when the Smith-Lever agri-
by congress.
1.-The Smith-Lever act has focused
the attention of the educational in
terests on the great agricultural prob
lens and has provided for a large and
active organization in every state for
agricultural extension work., said
Professor Christie. at may be of in
terest to consider a few of the
mediums and methods employed in
extension work" Professor Christie
then detailed work being done as fol-
lows:
1.-The farmers institute is one of the
oldest extension agencies. For years
the meetings have been held in the
various states The institute offers
not only an opportunity to impart
technical information on farming,
homemaking, road building, etc, but it
serves a medium for the strength
ening of social relationships.
Education Trains valuable.
by means of education trains
which have been operated over aim ost
every railroad in the United States,
it has been possible to reach in an eff
fective way large numbers of people
in a short space of time. This medium
has been most valuable in arousing
communities and focusing attention
upon definite important matters.
''Short courses in agricultural in
struction lasting one, two or more
weeks and located at various points
in the state have served as a most
valuable medium thru which to assist
farmers and their families. The stu
dents were given opportunity to do
laboratory work in judging corn, live
stick, fruit or potatoes, pruning trees,
making spray mixtures, ETC., etc. The
women had practical demonstrations
on the phases of home economics and
allied subjects.
lone of the most far reaching steps
taken thruout the entire country is
that providing for the appointment of
county agricultural agents or farm ad-
visors. Practically every state has
these workers. At present more than
LOO agents are at work
'In one county in Indiana the last
year the county agent noted that the
apple crop was unusually large. The
local demand was very small. The
county agent sought a mission
firm, enlisted their cooperation and
finally had them locate a branch Of
flee in the county with a corps of
pickers and a packing outfit. This
firm took from the county more than
$4,000 bushels of apples for which was
paid approximately $4,000. In no
previous year was there ever sold
more than 5000 bushels of apples
from this county. and it is conserva-
lively estimated that 10000 bushels
of apples were fed to hogs or allowed
to rot on the ground because they
were unfit for market