88 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



no sympathy with the idea that those courses 

 are too elaborate for those young men who want 

 to farm. It must be recognized, however, that 

 even if our agricultural colleges shall graduate 

 hundreds and thousands every year who return 

 to the farm, it still leaves the great majority of 

 farmers untouched in an educational way unless 

 other means are devised. But there are other 

 means at hand. 



We have first the agricultural school. The 

 typical agricultural high school gives a course of 

 two or three years, offering work of high-school 

 grade in mathematics and English, with about 

 half the time devoted to teaching in agriculture. 

 Many young men want to get an insight into 

 the principles of modern agriculture, but can- 

 not afford time or money for college work. 

 This course fits their need. A splendid school of 

 this design has been in successful operation in 

 Minnesota for more than a dozen years, and has 

 nearly five hundred students. In Wisconsin 

 there are two county schools of agriculture for a 

 similar purpose. Other schools could be named. 



The agricultural colleges also offer shorter 

 courses of college grade, perhaps of two years. 

 These are very practical and useful courses. 

 Not only that, but nearly all the colleges give 



