Farmers^ Week in Agricultural College. 119 



ten years among the farmers of the State and their changed attitude 

 toward the work of the Board and the College of Agriculture. It has 

 changed from much fault finding and criticism to support and hearty 

 co-operation. 



NEW METHODS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



(G. I. Christie, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, in address at Mis- 

 souri Farmers' Week, December, 1909.) 



The subject of agricultural education is receiving much attention 

 at this time. At almost every meeting of agricultural organizations, 

 educators and business men, some phase of this subject is discussed. 

 It is before the people in a strong way and is moving them to action. 



Men of the prominence and calibre of J. J. Hill of the Great 

 Northern Railway, and President Brown of the New York Central are 

 actively interested in the agricultural movement. They are pointing 

 out existing conditions in agriculture and what the morrow is to bring 

 and are emphasizing the need of applied information in the handling 

 of the soils and crops not only for the welfare of the farmer, but for 

 every class of the entire United States. 



In America today there are many resources upon which the wealth 

 and trade of the country is based. Among the more important of these 

 are the forests, gold mines, silver mines, oil wells, gas wells, coal, iron 

 and copper deposits and a complete net work of water ways. Of this 

 wealth the country boasts and with it as a backing has taken a front 

 rank among the nations of the world. Upon these resources many in- 

 dustries have been developed, which engage and return a livelihood to 

 more than sixty millions of people. 



Important as these resources and industries are, they are directly 

 dependent upon agriculture. No matter what work or reward they 

 may offer they are not productive of food. Remove the source of food 

 supply and the value of other resources drops to zero. Therefore the 

 Illinois slogan may be worded to include the entire country. ''The 

 wealth of the United States lies in its soil and the strength of her peo- 

 ple lies in the intelligent management of it." 



At present we hear much said about high prices of food stuffs. 

 People everywhere are protesting against the cost of living. The clamor 

 is loud and will likely be prolonged. 



The causes of high prices are many and complicated. To discuss 

 them at this time is a temptation, but space and time will not permit. 

 However, it is generally believed that the main causes of high prices 

 are increased demands and increase in the cost of production. It is 



