November, 1911.] 



139 



Agricultural Education. 



temperatures taken in the hair on the 

 animal's head were frequently found to 

 register as high as 47°0. 



Some observations were then made as 

 to the effect of sun's rays on the human 

 skin. White and dark brown skins 

 were selected and their normal tem- 

 perature carefully determined ; this 

 varied between 32-5°C. and 33-5°C. There 

 was no constant difference between the 

 two colours. When exposed to the sun 

 the skin temperatures rapidly rose to 

 36"5°C. or 37°C ; on continuing the ex- 

 posure there was no further rise of tem- 

 perature, but on the contrary a gradual 

 fall of 05°C. to 1°C. was observed. The 

 fall usually began with the appeatance 

 of diaphoresis. The fall was more rapid 

 and greater when active exercise was 

 being taken, and there was copious 

 perspiration. If the man had been 

 working hard and perspiring freely 

 before being exposed to the sun's rays 

 there was only a slight rise of the skin 

 temperature. Dark skins did not, so far 

 as the experiment went, show quite so 



much rise of temperature as white ones, 

 A possible explanation may be that the 

 dark skin absorbs more heat rays at 

 first, but in consequence the sweat 

 glands come into action sooner, and so 

 prevent the temperature from rising as 

 high as in the case of white skins. 



Although the effect of the sun's heat 

 on the human body is neutralized by 

 physiological action, this makes certain 

 demands on the human organism. This 

 is shown by one set ot observations, in 

 which persons lightly clad were kept at 

 rest but exposed to the sun's rays ; the 

 result of this exposure was to increase 

 the pulse-rate by 8 to 12 beats, and the 

 volume of respiration by 23 per cent. 

 Under similar conditions a Philippine 

 weighing 57 kg. lost weight to the extent 

 of 280 grm. in one hour, although no 

 allowance was made for the perspir- 

 ation absorbed by. his clothes. 



When active exercise is being taken the 

 heat produced by muscular action added 

 to that absorbed from the sun's rays 

 may produce a condition of collapse. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



FARMERS' CO-OPERATIVE DEMON- 

 STRATION WORK IN ITS RELA- 

 TION TO RURAL IMPROVEMENT. 



By S. A. Knapp, 

 Special Agent in Charge of Farmers ' 

 Co operative Demonstration Work. 



Introduction. 



The aim of the Farmers' Co-operative 

 Demonstration Work is to place a 

 practical object lesson before the farm 

 masses, illustrating the best and most 

 profitable methods of producing the 

 standard farm cr ops, and to secure such 

 active participation in the demon- 

 strations as to prove that the average 

 farmer can produce better results. 



This work also shows that there is no 

 necessity for the general deterioration 

 of farms and the too common poverty 

 of the rural masses. When these facts 

 have been demonstrated, the first step 

 in the improvement of rural conditions 

 has been taken. 



The Necessity for Improved Rural 

 conditions in the south. 



Every substantial advance in the 

 progress of human society costs money 

 and must be maintained by an increased 

 earning capacity of the masses. Food 

 and clothing are the first requirements- 



If the earning capacity of a people is 

 only sufficient to supply these, progress 

 is blocked and it is useless to insist upon 

 better houses, more home comforts, 

 schools, or any upward step. The 

 problem is, Are the rural masses un- 

 willing to provide the betterments 

 which a progressive civilization in the 

 country demands— comfortable houses 

 with improved home and farm equip- 

 ment, good schools and more months of 

 schooling, better highways, rural free 

 delivery, telephones, etc.— or do they 

 lack the means ? 



Upon the answer depends the proper 

 remedy for existing conditions. If 

 unable, steps should be taken to increase 

 the earning capacity of the rural toilers ; 

 if able, but unwilling, the rural pride 

 should be aroused and the force of 

 public opinion, and even law, brought to 

 bear. Nearly every man, even among 

 the poorest, will clothe his family better, 

 improve his home, and add conveniences 

 if he earns more. In the course of 

 social investigations in rural districts 

 for many years the writer noticed that 

 invariably bettei clothing and more 

 comfortable homes result from increased 

 earnings. Go into a thousand villages in 

 the South and ask the merchants if the 

 poorest coloured men would buy better 

 clothes if they had the money. The 

 answer is : " They will buy everything 



