Education
Your knowledge of the common school branches, especially English, mathematics, and current literature will greatly assist you in studying the elementary principles of chemistry; in comprehending the analyses of soil and water, the protein and carbohydrate contents of the feeds, milk, and plants, quite necessary in the selection of feeds for the proper balancing of rations; in the understanding of plant breeding, growth, and propagation; in studying entomology and obtaining a practical knowledge of insects, pests, diseases, and the bacteria of milk, water, etc., and in acquiring some knowledge of physics and its application to the soil, drainage, buildings, machinery, heating, lighting—all vastly important to the farm manager.
Technical training is valuable in adapting many farm processes to increase the profit on certain crops and makes special projects worthy of careful consideration by the disabled, seeking side-line opportunities on the farm for alternating employment when regular operations can not be pursued.
The knowledge to be gained in the vocational training course will depend upon your previous education, experience, and application. All the time necessary will be allotted to the course. It is, however, advisable not to overtax your strength, but acquire efficiency gradually. You will be advised by the training instructors as to your ability to undertake new features and widen the scope of instruction.
Getting back home to work again should be, and doubtless is, your greatest ambition, hence the importance of reaching your decision at the earliest possible moment and applying for the training which Uncle Sam has in readiness for you. Seek an early opportunity for advisement while in the hospital. You will find the attitude of your old friends, your own family, and your former employers all that you could possibly expect, in their desire to assist you in getting “over the top” in agriculture. The disposition of your fellow workmen will be to give you every encouragement and to lend a helping hand whenever and as long as you need it. They will take a justifiable pride in you and your determination to be a man among your former fellowmen in civil life and to train for a self-supporting and honorable occupation—one that will enable you to remain true to agriculture and to your country in its efforts to produce for the world the food which is now so greatly in demand; to prevent hunger and starvation, and to quell food riots in the war-afflicted countries.
The new year 1919 is upon us and spring is rapidly approaching, reminding us of farming activities and that activities in farming should have our prompt attention this year of all others, that starvation may cease with a bountiful harvest.
To you is offered free this exceptional opportunity to readjust yourself back into civil life in American agriculture by selecting farm management as your vocational training course.
It is all up to you.
Give it consideration now.
Agricultural literature is available in all libraries and consists of treatises and textbooks suitable for reading with the idea of the definite study for perfecting knowledge to be applied in pursuing any or many lines of agriculture. Many books have been written in the story plan and are most attractive and inspiring. Others are the best translations from other languages; even “Farm Management of the Romans” can now be secured in nearly all libraries of countries prominent in agriculture.
Libraries now make it a point to keep the leading current agricultural periodicals on file for the reader.
The Department of Agriculture bulletins, agricultural reports, farmers’ bulletins, and special works on agriculture are always available to everyone desiring them; likewise similar literature issued by State agricultural colleges and experiment stations, applicable directly to local State conditions, are especially helpful and will be supplied regularly as printed, to all addresses supplied.
We append a list of bulletins germane to the subject of this monograph and which will be found interesting and beneficial.