Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-20
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR.. ANDREW M. SOULE

discharge the duties of positions OF
the character outlined satisfactorily.
Second, with regard to opportuni-
ties for men who hold baccalaureate
or graduate degrees In agriculture
from a standard college of agricul-
ture.
a. There is an insistent demand
at the present time for men expertly
trained to carry forward educational
work in agriculture in our secondary
schools, in our district agricultural
and mechanical schools, and In our
colleges and universities. The field
in this direction is almost limit1ess,
as you will see.
b. We need hundreds of men who
are competently trained to act as
county agricultural agents. The sue
cessful county agent will have quite
as difficult position to I'LL as the
colonel of an infantry regiment GOOD
men of exceptional ability, and pos
sessed of a superior type Of leader
ship, are needed for this work in
large numbers.
c. The Smith-Hughes act now in
force already necessitates the train
ing of men by the agricultural col
and to take charge Of the numerous
problems which a systemtzed form
Of vocational training along agr1cul-
tural lines will require.
d. The u. S. department or agrf-
culture is calling for experts to
of activity it is conducting. Prob
ably thousand men year are
needed by this department alone to
fill vacancies and undertake the con-
duct of new projects.
e. The rural life problem, with
all it's vital relationship to our ma
tional destiny, awaits solution. We
need a whole army of workers In
this particular field.
f. We are launching campaigns
for tick eradication. hog cholera con-
troll, and the eradication of various
other insect pests. We are working
along the line of plant disease con-
troll. Numerous field men are need
ed for work of this character.
g. The experiment stations are
calling for men equipped to carry
forward the numerous research prob.
lens, upon the successful solution of
which the progress Of our agricul-
| ture rests.
h. The whole field of agricultural
| Journalism is open to men properly
| trained in institutions such as this.
I There is hardly a great daily now
which does not have an agricultural
department.
/. We need many men who have
perfected themselves to work In as
ISOLATION with, and afford guidance
| anu lSdQGTSulp W IlldIly VI Jul lIlO
tries. There is the great problem of
plant breeding which calls for many
recruits Our fertilizer, cotton oil
and peanut industries require men
| expertly trained to serve as chemists
and agricultural advisers to the con-
| stituency which support institutions
| of this character.
| In fact, the field is limitless.
You may think me over-enthus1-
astic, but assure you that this state
alone must eventually have 10000
agricultural experts. This end must
be attained in the next so years OF
else we will have failed in provid-
ing constructive and essential lead
ership to our chief industry. Since
| it constitutes the basis on which
national prosperity rests, 1t is mat
ter which concerns the welfare OF
every individual in this great coun.
try. 1t is hardly necessary to point
out that our rural schools, ou1
churches and the social life of the
open country must be modified tc
meet modern conditions. We are I'M
der the painful necessity of making
over our agricultural practice, re.
organizing our farms and replacing
our present complement of farm
buildings and equipment in the mex,
25 to SO years. Who is to carry into
effect this huge undertaking unless
we have a much larger volume OF
trained experts to intelligently su.
pervise and direct our efforts in the
i future than we have had in the
past? We have as great a reconstruc'
ton problem in our agriculture as
the war has brought to our doors
The adequate maintenance of the ur'
ban population of our nation at g
rational cost is involved. The sue
cess or failure of our industries is
coincident Herewith.
| Under the circumstances it fs not
surprising that Agricultural colleges
| should be endeavoring ito prepare eX-
perts to serve in the fields of agron-
omy, animal industry, poultry hus-
+ bandry, dairy husbandry, veterinary
medicine, horticulture, plant patho1-
ogy, plant breeding, agricultural en-
igineering, forestry and home organi-
cation and management.
AS to remuneration, there are equal
opportunities in the fields I have in
dictated to those open in any other
vocation. On the other hand, those
who wish to put service before mon
ey will find ample opportunity for
the exercise of the highest idealism
which has ever actuated human be.
ings. The field is one Of the most
inviting in the world to red-blood.
ed men and to fellows Of vision and
determination. 1t lies as the greatest
-.