332 Bulletin 137. 



Moisture of the Soil. These are two fundamental subjects upon 

 which every farmer needs more light. After having read one of 

 these bulletins, a printed circular is sent to each reader asking 

 certain definite questions, which it is desired that he shall 

 figure out, think about and answer for himself. In this way the 

 readers are kept in constant touch with the College of Agricul- 

 ture, and they are made to think, whether they desire to do so or 

 not. 



Aside from the many horticultural investigations which are 

 still continuing from Professor Bailey's work, there are now 

 more than 200 experiments with fertilizers on various kinds of 

 crops in progress throughout the State among the farming 

 community. Five hundred experiments in beet culture, with 

 and without fertilizers, are also being conducted to learn, if 

 possible, the localities in the state best adapted to sugar beet cul- 

 ture and to induce the farmers to investigate this new industry. 

 Instruction is given as to soil, methods of tillage and fertilization. 

 At the same time, numerous experiments are being conducted at 

 the university along lines similar to those mentioned. The Col- 

 lege of Agriculture has enrolled under the head of University 

 Extension work fifteen thousand pupils and ten thousand teachers 

 of the public schools, and one thousand six hundred young farmers. 

 The pupils and farmers receive guidance by means of printed cir- 

 culars and the farmers report progress and difficulties upon special 

 blanks which are furnished. Six instructors are employed 

 throughout the state in conducting University Extension work, 

 and special teachers are employed from time to time as occasion 

 requires. These instructors meet the teachers of the public 

 schools in the presence of their pupils and at teachers' associa- 

 tions and institutes for the purpose of illustrating methods for 

 teaching Nature Studies directly or indirectly related to Agricul- 

 ture. The leaflets furnished serve as text for the subjects taught. 



The result of this pushing of the education motive into the 

 rural communities has been a most decided waking up of the 

 rural communities which, even if the work were to stop at the 

 present time, would continue to exert an influence for a genera- 

 tion and more. 



All this work has been experimental, — an attempt to discover 



