Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-10
The Short Course

The nineteenth annual short course az the a. & NJ.
College, July 80 to August 4, will attract farmers
from all sections OF Texas. Each year the short course
becomes more popular, the past three years having
shown increases in attendance that clearly indicate the
widespread interest in better farming.
Thousands Of Texas farmers have added to the pro-
duction and profits Of their farms through application
Of the knowledge CLEANED by intensive study 1T the
short course. They have been given the opportunity
70 hear national and international experts on the va
rious agricultural topics in which Texas is most inter
ested; they have been permitted TO CLEAN from other
experts and master farmers a wide knowledge on a
great diversity Of agricultural subjects, all Of which
has combined to add to the profits Of the individual
farmers.
The short course is one Of Texas most profitable
ture will Always be the major industry. Every dollar
expended by the state in promoting better farming
methods adds 70 the profits Of the industry, and these
profits are equally distributed over the state.
Each year the directors Of the state agricultural
college secure for the short course the most expe-t
farm advisers available. They comb the agricultural
departments of the United States and foreign countries
for men who have made intensive study Of the agricul-
tural subjects in which Texas is most interested. They
bring from all parts Of the state the outstanding farm
ers, men who through research and experience have
been eminently successful in their farm operations. All
this array Of talent is at the disposal Of those who
attend the short course, and that Texas farmers are
fully appreciative Of their efforts and the programs
offered Is attested BY the mounting attendance each
year.
Texas could well afford to amplify this program
and make it more responsive to the agricultural condi-
tions Of Texas by dividing into four sections and hold
ing short courses in each section. The Lower Rio
Grande Valley is particularly interested in vegetable
farming and horticulture. East Texas is interested
in deciduous fruits and truck farming; West and North
Texas in cotton, wheat, feed crops and livestock. I'm
der the present system it is impossible to sectionalize
the work to the degree necessary to obtain the best
results in the limited time at the disposal of the farm
es attending.
II is true that the cost or carrying out a program
OF this kind would be far greater, but it would be =
good investment for the state. Much Of the work
would be duplicated in the various sections, and this
could be worked out on the chautauqua PLAN But the
greatest benefit would result from specializing in those
branches Of the industry in which the various sections
are most vitality interested.
The program this year will be replete with inter
est to farmers from all parts Of the state. The short
course is a week of intensive study, covering a wide
range Of subjects, and the only criticism that can be
offered is that the state has not seen fit to properly
finance and extend the work 50 that every farmer in
avery section could attend without serious incon-
venience-