DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 87 



REPORT OF EXTENSION SCHOOLS. 



BY R. J. BALDWIN. 



The Extension School is a group of rural people organized into a class, 

 to which a definite course in agriculture or home economics is given over 

 a period of from three to five days, by members of the extension staff. 

 These schools offer an opjiortunity for more infensive study tlian is pos- 

 sible in meetings of shorter duration and larger attendance. The pur- 

 poses of these schools may be briefly stated as follows: 



1. To give systematic courses of instruction adapted to local needs. 



2. To give those who cannot leave home a chance to take advantage 

 of a course near at hand. 



3. To promote greater local interest in local problems by bringing 

 the people together to discuss their common problems. 



4. To bring the extension workers into personal contact with the peo- 

 ple of the community to the end that plans may be made for carrying 

 out definite demonstrations on local farms and in local homes. This 

 often results in working out a program of a year's work for a local or- 

 ganization which affects the whole community. 



5. To interest boys and girls in home project work, and to place them 

 in touch with the Junior Extension Service of the College for further in- 

 struction. 



6. To keep the farmers and farmers' wives acquainted with the work 

 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, the United States Department 

 of Agriculture, and Avith the better practices of farmers in other parts 

 of their own State. 



The extension workers are in constant association with farmers in 

 various parts of the State, some of whom are successful in one line and 

 some in others. This in addition to their training makes it possible for 

 them to make their courses practical and adaptable to local conditions. 



Systematic courses were offered in the following subjects: 



Farm Crops. Farm and household engineering. 



Horticulture. Insect pests. 



Soils. Animal husbandry. 



Farm management. Home Economics, 1st year. 



Dairy husbandry. Home Economics, 2nd year. 



Live stock. 



The special assistance of Mr. J. A. Waldron and ]Mr. Ashley M. Ber- 

 ridge in animal husbandry and dairying, and Mr. T. A. Farrand in hor- 

 ticulture, was secured for the season and this made it possible to meet 

 the demand for this type of instruction. The members of the College 

 teaching staff assisted wherever possible, giving courses on special sub- 

 jects requested. 



In counties having county agricultural agents the schools were arrang- 



