22 Miaaouri Ayriculiural Report. 



tility. The great interest in the improvement of the corn crop — 

 which represents practically 50 per cent of the value of all crops 

 produced on the farm — I think, justifies the attention we have 

 given this subject. This subject was first introduced in the State 

 four years ago, and the great improvement in the quality of the 

 corn exhibited at the local shows as well as at our State meetings 

 has been marvelous. A leading seed com grower of Illinois stated 

 at our State institute last year that no state had made greater pro- 

 gress during the time than had Missouri. It is reasonable to sup- 

 pose that the work is accomplishing something in the way of in- 

 creasing the yield of corn. The statistics will show that during 

 the last five years the State has produced a greater average yield 

 per acre than for any five years during the history of the State. 

 Of no less interest than the subject of corn improvement is the 

 subject of soil fertility. The success of all our farm operations 

 rests upon this important subject. Perhaps added interest has 

 been given the subject because of the work recently taken up by 

 the Agricultural College in inaugurating a soil survey of the State, 

 and following this up with experiments in the use of fertilizers 

 and in different rotations and the effects of drainage. I think it 

 v/ill be well for the Board to make a very active effort in assist- 

 ing the Department of Agronomy in the Agricultural College in 

 obtaining an appropriation of not less than $25,000 to continue 

 the soil survey work and experimental plots during the next two 

 years. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



Looking to the future welfare of the State, and particularly 

 to the welfare of the farmers, I wish to call your attention to what 

 I consider a pressing need for the education of the farmer boys 

 and girls. Let me ask, what are the present opportunities for the 

 farmer boy to obtain an agricultural training? In this State, af- 

 ter he graduates from the rural school, he must then leave home 

 and parental oversight and go to some town or city for four years 

 before he is qualified to enter the State Agricultural College; then 

 four years more in Columbia before he graduates from the col- 

 lege course — eight years away from the farm and away from the 

 influence of home. However desirable it may be for the average 

 farm boy to obtain a complete four years' agricultural course, the 

 actual conditions prove to us that but a very small per cent of 

 them avail themselves of the opportunity. If you will pardon me 

 for referring again to the message of the President of the United 



