146 BOARD OF AGRICULTUKE. [Pub. Doc. 



larger number of men working in experimentation and teach- 

 ing as professors of agriculture, although those things are 

 vastly important ; but we need a group of college-trained, 

 bright-minded, well-equipped young men, right on our 

 farms, who are taking the leadership not onl}^ in showing 

 that farming will pay, but are taking the leadership in all 

 this work of rural progress, the improvement of the rural 

 community. If }'ou coukl })ut every year such a man as I 

 have described into each one of your Massachusetts towns, 

 the rural problem would be solved. 



But there is a third thino- m hich the agricultural college 

 must do. It must get into close, intimate, personal touch 

 with every man that tills the soil. Now, I like to call this 

 " extension work." 



The college will miss one of its most important functions, 

 it will be shorn of a large share of its possible power, if by 

 some means it does not reach out a helping hand directly 

 and immediately to the practical farmer. Personally, I be- 

 lieve that every aoricultural colleoe in the United States 

 ought to have in connection with it a thoroughly equipped 

 extension department, manned by the best men available, 

 men who know how to reach the farmers, although they are 

 also well trained scientifically and possibly know the busi- 

 ness practically, — a faculty of men whose business it is to 

 go out and l\v word of mouth or by })rinted page give in- 

 formation and inspiration to every farmer within the borders 

 of the Commonwealth. 



I named the voluntary organizations as a third agency. 

 The tillage improvement society, the farmers' club, the 

 various organizations of farmers, — these things are vital 

 factors in rural progress. The grange is perha})s the best 

 exanqde of all. The woi'k of the grange, it seems to me, is 

 not appreciated l)y many peo})le who do not belong to it, 

 and do not kiioNv its ])urpose and the kind of work it is 

 doing. You can't have a well-rounded development of your 

 agricultural connnunity, speaking now in a large way, un- 

 less you have well-develo})ed farmers' organizations. You 

 need them to express the cl^ss power. You need them to 

 iret the farmers to work together for toiniiion interests. 



