Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-02

complished only by continued patience and
personal and individual consideration or
each case. On the other hand. after the
student has been given every opportunity
to prove his worth and all the facts are
in hand, If II then appears that he cam
not do college work, no greater favor can
be rendered the student and those in
terested in him than to drop him from
college.
Every we'll ordered modern university
considers research to be It's very life
blood; and at this institution in so far
as 1t is possible, research is fostered
For a generation. the college of agricul-
ture. by virtue of its federal relationships
has done experimental work. Its publ
cations now numbered by tens Of thou
sands Of pages, issued In large editions.
reach every village in Vermont, q large
share of it's farm homes, every State in
the Union, and almost every country.
The important studies carried on in
our college Of medicine building. looking
towards the control of infantile paralysis,
are contributing valuable data and In
creasing our body of knowledge touching
this malady The housing of the State
laboratory of hygiene upon our campus
serves till further to foster the research
members of our teaching staff in all four
colleges are contributing articles to the
journals of their specialties. indications
Of their activities along research lines.
The development of extension activities
Is n matter that should engage our Sc
rous consideration. The university should
be the clearing house for Information re-
specting the States needs and its prob
lens. The instruction Of students within
college buildings will not suffice. We must
be prepared to play a prominent part in
the everyday life of our citizens. The
fabric Of the social. economic and polit-
ical life Of the State should be strength
ened in every part by the Interviewing
Of thought and action inspired by the uni
versity. Let us never forget that YER
mont's problems are our problems. For
years. this institution has had as MEM
bers Of its various faculties men of re-
markable erudition, modest and retiring.
men who were devoted in body and soul
to their respective departments and yet
comparatively unknown outside small
circle of acquaintance, and the students
with whom they have come in contact.
Their learning should be available not
only to the undergraduate body. but also
to all Vermonters, wherever located. In
this way higher education will be pop
ularized and within a comparatively short
time. it may be expected that the result
will be manifested in yet greater stu
dent body.
agriculture" said Socrates, 's an en-
ployment the most worthy the apprecia-
ion of man, the most ancient and the most
suitable to his nature. 1t is source OF
health. strength. plenty and riches and
Of q thousand sober delights and honest
pleasures
The Agricultural Extension Service dur
Ing the past year has maintained a force
OF field and Office workers which at times
numbered 60 people. This work has been
organized under projects covering both
agriculture and home economics.
The growth and the accomplishments
, of some of these projects are especially
worthy of your attention at this time.
The first three county agricultural agents
in New England were placed in Vermont
in 1912 Now every county but Essex
has an agent and its interests are being
looked after from Orleans Caledonia and
Coos counties. In 1917, seed corn was
tested for termination on $3.50 farms at
the suggestion of the county agents; in
1918. this number had increased to over
farms to a greater extent as a result of
the suggestion OF the county agents.
Balanced rations figured by the county
agents are known to have been adopted
on 265 farms in 1917 and on 434 farms in
91s. Five thousand two hundred and four
teen farm visits We're made by the county
agents in 1917. while 1865 visits were made
in 1918.
The boys and girls club work leaders
in cooperation with the State department
Of education last year enrolled 23,51s diff
ferent boys and girls in their
production and conservation campaign
There were IL different projects under
which these boys and girls could enroll.
Fifty per cent of them enrolled in two
projects or more so that the actual num-
Der Of different pieces of home work
totaled 37,154 Reports received from 15
900 of these boys and girls show the to-
tai value of their production to be $685.
$685. an average Of over $25 for each
producer.
The policy of placing home demonstra-
ton agents in counties. to work with the
women as the county agents work with
the men. Is an outgrowth of the war ac-
tivities OF the Extension Service. The
first agents were placed in Orange and
Madison counties in the autumn of 1917. At
the close of the last fiscal year. seven Of
these women agents were at work. AS a
result of the activities Of one of the agents
last winter, more than II tons of meat
were canned In one county.
Very important and far-reaching work
has been done by the specialists sent out
from the Extension Service to cooperate
with the county agents. This list has in
cluded specialists in homo economics,
darying, farm management. poultry. hor-
| ticulture. sheep. swine. and plant DIS
eases
The home economics specialist alone at
| tended 14l meetings last year. at which
! she was able to carry her messages TO
1866 people. Two thousand farm account
| books have been sold during 1919 to farm
,ers, most of which are being used. The
Poultry Specialist, as one part of his
work, conducted 131 poultry culling demon
strations, as result of which 1900 birds
were culled in this State last fall, 49,.
per cent of them were thrown out as
drones. On the basis of 25 cents per
month feed cost. this means n total saw
ing of $4,000 or 2l0 tons of grain saved
for other purposes.
! AS to the intramural work Of the col
| lege Of agriculture. 1t may be true. theo'
retically. that we should train teachers
OF agriculture, yet ] believe the people
Of the State expect more than that
There must be the attainment Of that
happy mean In which theoretical and prac'
tical agriculture shall be combined II
perfect harmony. More short courses
must be offered. and provision has al
| H.