Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-03-30

oi'i'y, from the pen of z. B. Parsons
son of our fellow townsman. Charles
PARSONS. The article, "Progress;vs
agriculture" is well written and n
reading of the same will show the
young man is thoroughly familiar with.
his subject: WIN
Progressive Agriculture.
tBy Z. B. Parsons.)
IN the good old days of our grand
Iather the foot-burner was some ma.
enine. Inc crooked stick was made
.h'o renee posts and 1.-The Man with
IN 1ne noe got job with the movies.
nc ooys went into the trenches be-
nlhu moving wave of mellow soil
anu dad grandfather made his little
sun new pair of copper toes every
IL was the one best bet and the bovs
were willing to stay "down on the
farm {, and break in new ground and
new boots. One day Silas Green
raised corn on his foot and a spark
IN his bean at the same time. Com.
ing TO the end of the furrow he threw
the reins over the hooks of old Dob;n
ana hobbled up through the hog lot
In search of relief.
In the fence corner he picked mn a
discarded grind stone. Then he rohbeS
the old wheelbarrow of it's soI;tary
rotef and bringing them up to the barn
yard he stumbled over the one re.
naming wheel of the OK cart.
- guess this will do for starter. >
ne said, and throwing them together
ne llmped over to his neighbor s to ask
'ne loan of his OK. Coming back he
chopped out the sill under the barn
door, hunted up few square nails and
started in hammering. Before night he
mad nailed beam to the sill and STEP
ped back to look at the niftiest little
sulky pillow that ever split the sod.
" How s that for progressive agri-
culture, he said the next morning as
he started his boys in on a new world.
Since then we have had the oppor-
tunity of saying "how's that!n again
and again. We see the result in the
vast output of improved agricultural
machinery, the greater acreage titled.
the larger yield of crops and more free.
dom from bondage of the soil. Won
derful as was that humble invention,
magnified as have been its improve.
ments, stupendous the results of its ap-
plcatlon, we are as yet just barely in
the dawn of progressive agriculture.
The earth has been circumvented by
people, the new lands have all been
homesteaded. No longer can the farm
er pull up stakes, load his wife and
worldly goods into the prairie schooner
and DESERVING his worn out fields, turn
toward the west to newer and greener
agricultural conquests.
We have reached the end of the lane
and now we must back track to nature.
We must build up our worn out lands
and make two fat grains grow where
one died of pneumonia.
We are regenerating the old lands,
we ARE encroaching on the desert and
we>aAre engineering the elements but
the cry is for crater and faster ad-
vancement, and we are achieving that.
The position the agricultural college
holds in this new order of farming
of agricultural ills. It's disciples will
wisdom of science and the help of
nature awaken the sleeping land and
through the improvement of methods
gain more bountiful crops than have
hitherto been conceived.
But to accomplish such results the
college itself must advance. The
methods in vogue ten years ago will
not suffice for the present. The range
of agriculture is increasing tremend-
ously. 1t it is the desire of the col
lege to cover this wider field then
some plan must be advanced by which
it may be accomplished. The ancient
idea of not dictation in class must to
an extent cease. By putting notes in
the form of published bulletins and
text books for dispersement among the
students and for distribution among
the agriculturalists of the state
time can be gained for discussion and
laboratory practice in getting a deeper
insight into rural economics, and in
broadening and strengthening the stud
ent in his ability to put into thoughts
and words the knowledge he has gain
ed. Agricultural pursuits not only de
mand men who can go out into the field
and demonstrate ability in their lines
of endeavor, but who can also intelli
gently convey the idea to those about
them who are interested, and it is the
business of the college to supply these
men.
The College of Agriculture is col
Iege extraordinary. If it is to hold it'
place supreme, it must break away from
the old educational order. 1t must be
come an institution conducted along
lines closely allied to modern business
ethics. It's general manager will hay'
the closest of supervision in the differ
emf departments. His assistants will
be recruited from the most of agrieul
turalists who have won their spurs OF
the field of conquest The college vii
be an instructive workshop rather thar
a hall of theory wherein the agriccul
tural student will not only learn VIVA
to attemt but how to accomplish it.
The scope of agriculture is immense
its interest to humanity intense, its pos
sibilities unlimited and its results un
bounded. 1t is the hub of the futur
around which mans destiny will re
volve. ;,
Men in the future will look to tn
agricultural college as the world to
dav looks into the sun; for light AM
strength. The time is near at ham
when we will not be able to subsls
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