78 PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



three or maybe four years at Davis, and to the nature-loving youth 

 nothing can be more attractive. He will study of plants, trees, and 

 vines, of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry, of the soil, its culti- 

 vation, irrigation, and improvement, of farm machinery, tools, and 

 implements ; he will learn to use forge, and carpentry tools, plan and 

 build buildings ; he will study the English language, mathematics, 

 and government. Result : as well rounded a young man as ever gradu- 

 ated from the high school and fitted with the mental and mechanical 

 equipment to become a good farmer, or to go on to college if he chooses 

 to become a teacher or experimenter in agriculture. Will you accept 

 the invitation for your sons, and send them when the doors are open 

 for this grand opportunity for California's grand young men? You 

 must meet the college half way in its efforts to supply the secondary 

 training, or all the money spent in equipment and teachers goes for 

 naught. I am confident that you will not be found wanting. 



This secondary school of agriculture, as we are pleased to call it, is 

 not new, even in California. One has been in operation four years 

 at San Luis Obispo, and some of Sacramento Valley's good sons are in 

 attendance. Assistant Secretary Hays says there are more than thirty 

 of them in the United States, and he says two or three hundred are 

 needed. The next move of the National Government to further educa- 

 tion will undoubtedly be to establish such secondary schools through- 

 out the nation — possibly one in each congressional district. So our 

 college of agriculture is not treading on entirely new ground and is 

 assured of success from the beginning, provided you send your sons. 



As a concluding word, let me say again that the college is standing 

 where it ought to stand as a part of our great University in a position 

 of dignity and honor. I do not believe that you would like to have it 

 lowered by taking a position subordinate to the other colleges or to 

 agricultural colleges in other states. It will meet your needs, your 

 fondest desires for more elementary and practical instruction, by its 

 schools at Davis. The University is grateful to you and the Legislature 

 for your confidence in making large appropriations, and it enters the 

 new field of secondary schools with a determination to administer the 

 funds to the best advantage of the farming people. When you have 

 considered the plan thoughtfully, I am sure you will see that California 

 is to have a scheme of agricultural instruction second to none in the 

 land. But do not forget that your high school and the little roadside 

 school should be teaching agriculture also. If the cities can have a 

 manual-training system beginning in the grammar school and continu- 

 ing through the polytechnic high to the University mechanics depart- 

 ment, why can not we have agriculture running through the entire 

 system — country school, agricultural high, and the University agricul- 

 tural department? It is not too much to hope for, and some day we 

 shall see it. Will you help? 



