12 THE HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE 



Our national government has made provision for the support of 

 an agricultural college and an experiment station in every State 

 and Territory, and it has proved to be one of the best investments 

 that the national government has ever made. Oklahoma, which 

 is one of the last States to be admitted into the Union, is to be 

 especially commended for having adopted a constitution which 

 provides that agriculture and domestic science shall be taught in 

 all the public schools of the State. In many of our States agricul- 

 tural high schools have been established, which are doing a great 

 and good work. Georgia and Alabama in the South and Wisconsin 

 in the North have done more, perhaps, along this line than any of 

 their sister States. The time is not far distant when agriculture 

 will be taught in every school of our country. When this has been 

 done, we may expect a new era in farming and far more prosperous 

 times. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Describe man's early struggle with the soil. 



2. Mention some of the first farming implements that were used. 



3. What has cheapened the cost of farm products of every kind ? 



4. Why is a systematic study of agriculture necessary ? 



5. Is agriculture a new study or subject ? 



6. What oriental nation early gave attention to agriculture and made 

 it a part of the course of study for schools ? 



7. Discuss the position of agriculture among the early Romans. 



8. What attention was given agriculture by the early Indians of North 

 America ? What proof have we of this fact ? 



9. Do our strong and vigorous men come from the country or the 

 city? Why? 



10. What steps have England, France, Germany, and the United States 

 taken to promote agricultural education ? 



11. What States have taken the lead in establishing agricultural high 

 schools ? 



12. For what is the constitution of Oklahoma especially to be com- 

 mended ? 



REFERENCES 



Agriculture for the Common Schools, Hunnicutt. 

 The School and Farm, Eggert. 

 Twelfth Census (1900), Volumes V and VI. 

 General History, Colby. 



