UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Agricultural Experiment Station COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE E - J - WlCKSON, D.rcctor BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA CIRCULAR No. 55 August, 1910. : FARMERS' INSTITUTES AND UNIVERSITY EXTENSION IN AGRICULTURE BY WARREN T. CLARKE. Farmer's Institute work in California was begun in the year 1892. The effort at first was financed by the University of California through appropria- tions from the general funds of this institution. This provision of all necessary funds by the University of California was continued for eleven years. In the year 1903 the State Legislature passed an Act entitled ' ' An Act authorizing the Regents of the State University to hold Farmers' Institutes, making an appropriation therefor, and prescribing the duties of the Controller and Treasurer in relation thereto." The sum of six thousand dollars a year for two years was appropriated for the specified purpose under the Act. The Legislatures of the years 1905 and 1907 reenacted this Act without change. The work of Farmers ' Institutes and University Extension in Agriculture, owing to this generous provision of money by -the State, was greatly enlarged and placed upon a more satisfactory basis than had been possible heretofore. Institutes have been held not alone in those parts of the State that were easily accessible but the work has also been done in the most remote farming sections. Distance from railroad transportation has been no bar to the effort and the work of University Extension in Agriculture was made, in some or all of its phases, to be of state-wide value and importance. The very fact that the Farmers' Institute movement was in a period of growth and expansion had the effect of creating new demands upon those engaged in the work, and, at the time of the meeting of the State Legislature in 1909, the Act previously referred to was again enacted, but with the appropriation increased to ten thousand dollars a year. This increased appropriation for the work of YUniversity Extension in Agriculture passed both the Senate and Assembly without opposi- tion and received enthusiastic approval from the Governor of the State, while in the comments by the press and by those prominent in industrial and educational circles the work of Farmers' Institutes was highly praised for directness and efficiency. Regular printed reports of the work done have not been made, owing to the fact that funds for printing purposes have not been at hand. It seems appropriate, however, at this time, the end of the first year 's work under the larger appropriation, to briefly point out some phases of the work and to indicate what has been done in the year just ended. ORGANIZATION. The work of University Extension in Agriculture and Farmers' Institutes is organized as a division of the College of Agriculture of the University of California. In 1907 the writer was made Superintendent of this division of the college work. Mr. J. B. Neff of Anaheim holds the office of Conductor of Farmers' Institutes for Southern California. Correspondence regarding the general work of University Extension in Agriculture and of Farmers' Institutes in the Northern part of the State should be addressed to W. T. Clarke, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, while letters in regard to Institutes in Southern California should be sent to the Conductor of Institutes named above. LINES OF EFFORT. Various lines of work are carried forward by the division of University Extension in Agriculture, all having as their ultimate end the bringing to the different communities the very latent scientific and practical knowledge that may be of value to the farmers of the State. This last manifestly cannot be done in the same way and through the same agencies for each community and individual, so the subdivisions of the work noted below are made. Farmers' Institutes. — These meetings are held in the communities demanding them and manifesting the greatest interest in intensive educational work. The meetings are usually of one or two days' duration, though occasionally even more time may be given to one place. Speakers are sent out from the College of Agriculture, these men being specialists in the subjects which they discuss. Men and women who have made successes in the actual work of the farms are also sent to these institutes. The speaking force at the Farmers' Institutes is thus made up of both scientific experimenters and practical workers, and the discussions, therefore, are of real value to those communities where meetings may be held. It is also constantly and strongly urged that papers covering subjects of local import be presented by men and women resident in the com- munity where the meetings are being held. . It has been found that such papers frequently are of great value. By the means here briefly noted the Farmers' Institute has been made to be a method of intensive educational work of real value to the busy farmer. Early securing of dates is urged as the demands for these meetings are great, and hence they have to be arranged for much in advance of the time that they may be wanted. The question as to the expense of such meetings to UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Agricultural Experiment Station College of agriculture e - j - Wickson > d.rccto* BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA . l • CIRCULAR No. 55 ' August, 1910. FARMERS' INSTITUTES AND UNIVERSITY EXTENSION IN AGRICULTURE BY WARREN T. CLARKE. Farmer's Institute work in California was begun in the year 1892. The effort at first was financed by the University of California through appropria- tions from the general funds of this institution. This provision of all necessary funds by the University of California was continued for eleven years. In the year 1903 the State Legislature passed an Act entitled "An Act authorizing the Regents of the State University to hold Farmers' Institutes, making an appropriation therefor, and prescribing the duties of the Controller and Treasurer in relation thereto." The sum of six thousand dollars a year for two years was appropriated for the specified purpose under the Act. The Legislatures of the years 1905 and 1907 reenacted this Act without change. The work of Farmers' Institutes and University Extension in Agriculture, owing to this generous provision of money by the State, was greatly enlarged and placed upon a more satisfactory basis than had been possible heretofore. Institutes have been held not alone in those parts of the State that were easily accessible but the work has also been done in the most remote farming sections. Distance from railroad transportation has been no bar to the effort and the work of University Extension in Agriculture was made, in some or all of its phases, to be of state-wide value and importance. The very fact that the Farmers' Institute movement was in a period of growth and expansion had the effect of creating new demands upon those engaged in the work, and, at the time of the meeting of the State Legislature in 1909. the Act previously referred to was again enacted, but with the appropriation increased to ten thousand dollars a year. This increased appropriation for the work of University Extension in Agriculture passed both the Senate and Assembly without opposi- tion and received enthusiastic approval from the Governor of the State, while in the comments by the press and by those prominent in industrial and educational circles the work of Farmers' Institutes was highly praised for directness and efficiency. Regular printed reports of the work done have not been made, owing to the fact that funds for printing purposes have not been at hand. It seems appropriate, however, at this time, the end of the first year 's work under the larger appropriation, to briefly point out some phases of the work and to indicate what has been done in the year just ended. ORGANIZATION. The work of University Extension in Agriculture and Farmers' Institutes is organized as a division of the College of Agriculture of the University of California. In 1907 the writer was made Superintendent of this division of the college work. Mr. J. B. Neff of Anaheim holds the office of Conductor of Farmers' Institutes for Southern California. Correspondence regarding the general work of University Extension in Agriculture and of Farmers' Institutes in the Northern part of the State should be addressed to W. T. Clarke, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, while letters in regard to Institutes in Southern California should be sent to the Conductor of Institutes named above. LINES OF EFFORT. Various lines of work are carried forward by the division of University Extension in Agriculture, all having as their ultimate end the bringing to the different communities the very latest scientific and practical knowledge that may be of value to the farmers of the State. This last manifestly cannot be done in the same way and through the same agencies for each community and individual, so the subdivisions of the work noted below are made. Farmers 7 Institutes. — These meetings are held in the communities demanding them and manifesting the greatest interest in intensive educational work. The meetings are usually of one or two days' duration, though occasionally even more time may be given to one place. Speakers are sent out from the College of Agriculture, these men being specialists in the subjects which they discuss. Men and women who have made successes in the actual work of the farms are also sent to these institutes. The speaking force at the Farmers' Institutes is thus made up of both scientific experimenters and practical workers, and the discussions, therefore, are of real value to those communities where meetings may be held. It is also constantly and strongly urged that papers covering subjects of local import be presented by men and women resident in the com- munity where the meetings are being held. It has been found that such papers frequently are of great value. By the means here briefly noted the Farmers' Institute has been made to be a method of intensive educational work of real value to the busy farmer. Early securing of dates is urged as the demands for these meetings are great, and hence they have to be arranged for much in advance of the time that they may be wanted. The question as to the expense of such meetings to the community is frequently asked and can be briefly answered thus: — The division of University Extension in Agriculture furnishes speakers from abroad, paying for their time and also paying all of their traveling expenses. The com- munity where the Institute is held provides, at its expense, hall and heating and lighting thereof, and also takes care of the local advertising. This expense need not be heavy, but should be attended to before the meetings are held, so that visitors need not feel that demands will be made on them for money. The Farmers ' Institute is supposed to be free to all who may wish to attend. Beading Courses. — While the Farmers ' Institute is both a direct and inten- sive educational effort, in many cases, in the very nature of things, it does not go as deeply into the subjects discussed as some of our people wish. In response to a demand for some means by which the man or woman desiring to go further in study than was possible in the Institute, reading courses have been established as a part of the work of University Extension in Agriculture. Two such courses are now in active operation. One of these is entitled ' ' A Reading Course in Economic Entomology," and the other "A Eeading Course in Irrigation Practice and Institutions." On request, students in any part of the State are registered in these courses and literature on the subject chosen furnished to them, and their reading of this literature is directed from the College of Agriculture. Students registering in these courses are expected to pay the cost of transportation of books from and to Berkeley. No other expense attaches to these reading courses. Correspondence and Special Visitations. — Questions are frequently asked in letters to the division of University Extension in Agriculture and these questions entail either a very considerable correspondence or in certain special cases the actual visiting by experts of the region from whence the inquiry comes. This phase of extension work is encouraged and met, so far as funds at our disposal will permit, and there can be no question that much of value to the agricultural interests of the State is accomplished in this way. Public Schools. — The division of University Extension in Agriculture, co- operating with the division of Agricultural Education of the University of California, is making definite efforts to reach the school children of the State. These divisions stand ready to assist any of the schools of the State in their work of teaching agriculture. This assistance may consist of advice given by letters or by circulars, of personal supervision of garden work, and of addresses by experts in agricultural matters. In connection with this school extension work a special effort is being made to encourage the planting and care of trees and shrubs and the whole effort is showing very encouraging features. Demonstration Trains. — Through the cooperation of the Southern Pacific Company we have been able to put out, during the past two years, what are known as Agricultural and Horticultural Demonstration Trains. The funda- mental principle, governing the make-up of these trains, has been the idea that better methods of work on the farm and the results that might be attained through these methods could be best understood if actually seen. So agri- cultural exhibits have been brought together and conveniently installed in well-lighted coaches for the purpose of showing better and more economical methods. The demonstration trains have been made up of these exhibit coaches, a car for lecture purposes and the necessary sleeping and dining cars, and have been run as specials over all the lines of this railroad company in the State, all of the operating expenses of the trains being met by them. Men from the College of Agriculture, and men and women engaged in the actual working of the farms of the State, have accompanied the trains and explained the exhibits and answered the questions of visitors. The educational value of these ''Agricultural Colleges on Wheels" can hardly be overestimated, and it is to be hoped that the effort may be continued, though their operation entails a great drain on the teaching force of the College of Agriculture. SUMMARY. The preceding paragraphs give, in a general way, an outline of the various activities of the division of University Extension in Agriculture. As to the actual work done in the last fiscal year, ending on June 30, 1910, the following statistics show, in some degree, its extent: One hundred Farmers' Institutes were held, covering 132 days, and were divided into 297 sessions. A total of 29,108 people attended these institutes and 25 State lecturers and 183 local lecturers addressed the meetings. In addition to these lecturers ten speakers from the College of Agriculture devoted a total of 134 days to the work of Farmers' Institutes. One hundred and fifteen reading course students were registered from thirty- eight counties of the State. The Demonstration Train was in service sixty-eight days, covering 3,436 miles of road and making 223 stops. A total of 73,663 people visited the train. Teachers to the number of 1,200 were approached by letter on the subject of nature study. Ten thousand circulars on school gardens were sent out, while seventy-five City and County Superintendents of Schools were corre- sponded with on the above subjects. Three schools were given personal super- vision in garden and agricultural work while twenty-four teachers were helped in these endeavors by letter and personal visits. In addition to all this a number of addresses were given at Teachers' Institutes and Teachers' Associa- tions. This bare recital of figures indicates in an imperfect way the activities of the division of University Extension in Agriculture for the past year. The great demands that the work has made upon the teaching force of the College of Agriculture should be noted, yet it has brought the University staff into very close personal relations with the people of the State in a way that has proved very acceptable to all concerned. W. T. CLARKE, Supt. University Extension in Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley, California. the community is frequently asked and can be briefly answered thus: — The division of University Extension in Agriculture furnishes speakers from abroad, paying for their time and also paying all of their traveling expenses. The com- munity where the Institute is held provides, at its expense, hall and heating and lighting thereof, and also takes care of the local advertising. This expense need not be heavy, but should be attended to before the meetings are held, so that visitors need not feel that demands will be made on them for money. The Farmers' Institute is supposed to be free to all who may wish to attend. Beading Courses. — While the Farmers ' Institute is both a direct and inten- sive educational effort, in many cases, in the very nature of things, it does not go as deeply into the subjects discussed as some of our people wish. In response to a demand for some means by which the man or woman desiring to go further in study than was possible in the Institute, reading courses have been established as a part of the work of University Extension in Agriculture. Two such courses are now in active operation. One of these is entitled ' ' A Reading Course in Economic Entomology," and the other "A Reading Course in Irrigation Practice and Institutions. ' ' On request, students in any part of the State are registered in these courses and literature on the subject chosen furnished to them, and their reading of this literature is directed from the College of Agriculture. Students registering in these courses are expected to pay the cost of transportation of books from and to Berkeley. No other expense attaches to these reading courses. Correspondence and Special Visitations. — Questions are frequently asked in letters to the division of University Extension in Agriculture and these questions entail either a very considerable correspondence or in certain special cases the actual visiting by experts of the region from whence the inquiry comes. This phase of extension work is encouraged and met, so far as funds at our disposal will permit, and there can be no question that much of value to the agricultural interests of the State is accomplished in this way. Public Schools. — The division of University Extension in Agriculture, co- operating with the division of Agricultural Education of the University of California, is making definite efforts to reach the school children of the State. These divisions stand ready to assist any of the schools of the State in their work of teaching agriculture. This assistance may consist of advice given by letters or by circulars, of personal supervision of garden work, and of addresses by experts in agricultural matters. In connection with this school extension work a special effort is being made to encourage the planting and care of trees and shrubs and the whole effort is showing very encouraging features. Demonstration Trains. — Through the cooperation of the Southern Pacific Company we have been able to put out, during the past two years, what are known as Agricultural and Horticultural Demonstration Trains. The funda- mental principle, governing the make-up of these trains, has been the idea that better methods of work on the farm and the results that might be attained through these methods could be best understood if actually seen. So agri- cultural exhibits have been brought together and conveniently installed in well-lighted coaches for the purpose of showing better and more economical methods. The demonstration trains have been made up of these exhibit coaches, a car for lecture purposes and the necessary sleeping and dining cars, and have been run as specials over all the lines of this railroad company in the State, all of the operating expenses of the trains being met by them. Men from the College of Agriculture, and men and women engaged in the actual working of the farms of the State, have accompanied the trains and explained the exhibits and answered the questions of visitors. The educational value of these "Agricultural Colleges on Wheels" can hardly be overestimated, and it is to be hoped that the effort may be continued, though their operation entails a great drain on the teaching force of the College of Agriculture. SUMMARY. The preceding paragraphs give, in a general way, an outline of the various activities of the division of University Extension in Agriculture. As to the actual work done in the last fiscal year, ending on June 30, 1910, the following statistics show, in some degree, its extent: One hundred Farmers' Institutes were held, covering 132 days, and were divided into 297 sessions. A total of 29,108 people attended these institutes and 25 State lecturers and 183 local lecturers addressed the meetings. In addition to these lecturers ten speakers from the College of Agriculture devoted a total of 134 days to the work of Farmers' Institutes. One hundred and fifteen reading course students were registered from thirty- eight counties of the State. The Demonstration Train was in service sixty-eight days, covering 3,436 miles of road and making 223 stops. A total of 73,663 people visited the train. Teachers to the number of 1,200 were approached by letter on the subject of nature study. Ten thousand circulars on school gardens were sent out, while seventy-five City and County Superintendents of Schools were corre- sponded with on the above subjects. Three schools were given personal super- vision in garden and agricultural work while twenty-four teachers were helped in these endeavors by letter and personal visits. In addition to all this a number of addresses were given at Teachers' Institutes and Teachers' Associa- tions. This bare recital of figures indicates in an imperfect way the activities of the division of University Extension in Agriculture for the past year. The great demands that the work has made upon the teaching force of the College of Agriculture should be noted, yet it has brought the University staff into very close personal relations with the people of the State in a way that has proved very acceptable to all concerned. W. T. CLARKE, Supt. University Extension in Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley, California. methods. The demonstration trains have been made up of these exhibit coaches, a car for lecture purposes and the necessary sleeping and dining cars, and have been run as specials over all the lines of this railroad company in the State, all of the operating expenses of the trains being met by them. Men from the College of Agriculture, and men and women engaged in the actual working of the farms of the State, have accompanied the trains and explained the exhibits and answered the questions of visitors. The educational value of these "Agricultural Colleges on Wheels" can hardly be overestimated, and it is to be hoped that the effort may be continued, though their operation entails a great drain on the teaching force of the College of Agriculture. SUMMARY. The preceding paragraphs give, in a general way, an outline of the various activities of the division of University Extension in Agriculture. As to the actual work done in the last fiscal year, ending on June 30, 1910, the following statistics show, in some degree, its extent: One hundred Farmers' Institutes were held, covering 132 days, and were divided into 297 sessions. A total of 29,108 people attended these institutes and 25 State lecturers and 183 local lecturers addressed the meetings. In addition to these lecturers ten speakers from the College of Agriculture devoted a total of 134 days to the work of Farmers' Institutes. One hundred and fifteen reading course students were registered from thirty- eight counties of the State. The Demonstration Train was in service sixty-eight days, covering 3,436 miles of road and making 223 stops. A total of 73,663 people visited the train. Teachers to the number of 1,200 were approached by letter on the subject of nature study. Ten thousand circulars on school gardens were sent out, while seventy-five City and County Superintendents of Schools were corre- sponded with on the above subjects. Three schools were given personal super- vision in garden and agricultural work while twenty-four teachers were helped in these endeavors by letter and personal visits. In addition to all this a number of addresses were given at Teachers' Institutes and Teachers' Associa- tions. This bare recital of figures indicates in an imperfect way the activities of the division of University Extension in Agriculture for the past year. The great demands that the work has made upon the teaching force of the College of Agriculture should be noted, yet it has brought the University staff into very close personal relations with the people of the State in a way that has proved very acceptable to all concerned. W. T. CLARKE, Supt. University Extension in Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley, California.