56S STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



to be schoolod and led in orfjanized efforts for the betterment of them- 

 selves and their snrroundings. That the need of keeping this great un- 

 dertakinu- in touch with 1ho newer life now throbbing throngh the veins 

 of agricnllnre is fully realized, will be seen from the following ])ara- 

 gra])hs from the State Lecturer's report: 



"If agriculture study is to have a j)lace in our jjublic schools, is it 

 less fitting that the mass of farmers wlio are ])erforming the agriculture 

 work of today, be furnished the opportunity of getting instruction in 

 the scientific princi])les underlying their ])rofession? In other words, 

 should it not have a place in our Grange school? 



''The number of observers and workers for the government in agri- 

 cultural lines are being increas(>d every year and the results given freely 

 to the j)ublic. The farmer is the one who shouhl be most vitally inter- 

 ested and enthusiastic from a standpoint of curiosity, as he is the one 

 most vitally affected in the outcome in the commercial enterprises set 

 on foot by iho results thus secured. 



"This the farmer should be, but is he? We are sometimes led to think 

 that other classes are appreciating the 'new agriculture' more than the 

 farmers. A beginning has been made in the study of agriculture through 

 Grange programs and home reading; only a beginning, it is true, but 

 along with that a foundation is being laid for an increase to the new line 

 of educational work. And that it is in just the stage where it needs the 

 most intelligent and careful treatment we are fully conscious. 



"The beginning was made from text book study. This year we sought 

 the co-operation of the college; it was freely given and each issue of our 

 bulletin has been accom]»anied by a special bulletin upon agricultural 

 topics of which has been prepared at the college. 



"There is no question but what these special bulletins have materially 

 aided this extension work, the regret is that more copies of each issue 

 could not be obtained to put in circulation. 



"No more imj)ortant question considering the imperative need of the 

 times will come before this meeting than of devising ways and means 

 of continuing this Grange extension work in agriculture. 



"Shall tlie large membershijj in our order show a lethargy and in- 

 difference to that Avhich pertains to their own welfare? National Master 

 Jones says : 'The farmers of today and the future must be students, and 

 the Grange is the school, the medium for the exchange of information 

 and methods betwcnni farmers, that all nmy prolit by the knowledge 

 gained by each. And that no gTcat order, any more than an individual 

 or a nation, can continue to prosper and etxend its influence unless it 

 continues to grow and grajiple with the i)roblems that continually appear 

 in this age of wonderful progress.' 



"Our order does not rest upon its past record, but continues to keep 

 abreast of the ever changing conditions to uphold the interest of agri- 

 culture." 



In order to meet the increasing demands for some system in dis]iosing 

 of farm produce, the Department of Grange Information, organized early 

 in 1904, has spent much time and thought u])on ways and means to attain 

 this coveted end. The state committee in charge of this department, 

 reports their work of tlie first season as follows: 



"The new feature of co-ojierative work may be ])ro]ierly divided into 

 two departments. 



