Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 247, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1911 — Agricultureal Eduction for Young Men [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Agricultureal Eduction for Young Men

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In a previous article a discussion of the farmer and agricultural education brought out the fact that active practical farmers everywhere have been awakened to a keen interest In the study of agriculture, and largely because of force of circumstances, such as waning soil fertility, decreased crop yields and cost of production, or In other words they have discovered the necessity of a careful study and better understanding of the business of farming. They have come to this conclusion after a realization of the importance and value of a thorough ununderstanding of the principles of agriculture from the standpoint of financial profit or dollars and cents. : Why Take the Agricultural Course? There are many ambitious young men In the country who desire A college education. Undoubtedly the desire Is due to an ambition to better their condition intellectually, socially or financially. They frequently choose a certain college or a certain course in college because it has been recommended by parent, friend or teacher and many times without giving consideration to the question of what such a course will lead to in the end. Frequently little thought is given to the opportunities open to the graduate of a particular institution or course, and often little consideration Is given to the young man’s fitness for a certain kind ot work which the college course is supposed to prepare him to do. Make No Mistake In Choosing Agricultural Course. Looking at.lt from a broad standpoint the young man from the country can make no mistake in choosing an agricultural course unless he has a pronounced liking and aptness for some particular kind of work, such as engineering, art, literature or a distinct dislike for country life and agricultural matters. t In the first place the country boy knows more about agriculture than anything else as a rule because he has lived with it and is more or less fa-

miliar with the operations and practices which naturally are necessary to success In this field, as they are tn any other work he may undertake. Agricultural courses are generally admitted to be broad in scope and training. No technical course given in the technical colleges of the country compares in breadth to the agricultural courses offered by the agricultural colleges. If one is seeking a broad education he will do well to consider agriculture. No field of endeavor offers more alluring opportunities and inducements than that of agriculture. For the man with ingenuity It offers most varied and attractive opportunities. Farming an Attractive and Profitable ' Business. The business of farming sven at present, and more particularly in the future, will require not only scientific study and knowledge, but the most skillful organisation and management. To the young man who has the ability, knowledge, and experience, the farm opens a most interesting field for scientific attainment, financial return and pleasure. With modern machinery and scientific knowledge the farm is the moot attractive field for the country bred boy. The indifferent uneducated farmer Is no doubt soon to be crowded out by the competition of men scientifically trained. The fanner of the future must not only be a successful producer, but ho must bo an organiser, a director, and a sale*-

man; he must be able to promote co operative movements in order that the community interest may be taken care of; he must also be able to meet, mingle and compete with the city’s best business men and citizens, and to do this must have a broad, well rounded education. ' Abundant Opportunity for Salaried Positions. Again there are many young men who, not owning farms, seek an education primarily for the purpose of making a better livelihood In some salaried position than they could otherwise do without a college education. To those In this class It may again be safely Mated, that the agricultural course opens a broad and most remunerative field. Many are not familiar with those opportunities. Agricultural college graduates are in demand all over the world, to fill positions as teachers In secondary schools and colleges, as experiment station investigators, as extension teachers, as agricultural chemists, as dairy and food experts and inspectors, as horticulturists, as farm managers and superintendents and many others. There is no class of college graduates occupying salaried positions today that is as well paid as agricultural college; graduates, and no class of graduates rises as rapidly to the top of the ladder in their chosen lines. Great Demand for Agricultural v Teachers. Young men frequently spend four years In a classical institution or normal college in order to prepare themselves for teaching in the publto schools at salaries that do not compare with those ot the agricultural graduate who has prepared himself for teaching. The call for high class agricultural teachers Is so great now that the demand Is never supplied and yet this field is only beginning to be opened. Furthermore, the man who takes an agricultural course is prepared to actively engage in farming at any time he cares to give up his sal-

aided position. Any number of men annually complete classical, scientific and technical courses only go back to the old farm for one reason and another, and only to find that their time and money would have been more profitably spent in an agricultural college course. Moro than seventy-five per cent of our agricultural graduates go back to the farm, the other twentyfive per cent, all hold remunerative po. sitions, mostly in some line of agricultural work. The salaries of those of the class of 1911 taking position* range from >9OO to 11,500 per year.

Students Receiving Practical Instruction In the Orchard.

Class Studying Weeds and Their Seeds.