own vitality, to make possible their existence, they must carry on extension work, they must live close to the community and the community problems; they must " get under " the problems the community and solve them. They are doing it. Summary. What shall be the relation of all of these agencies, that are engaged in the dissemination of agricultural information, toward one another? Who shall be the leader? Which ones shall supplement? Which ones shall be supplanted? What kind of coordination can exist between so many different agents diffusing the same facts,principles and theories for so many different purposes? Will coordination lead to jealousy, envy and factional disturbance? Can so many different organizations work together in harmony? These are but a few of the grave problems that extension agencies will have to face in the near future. Relation and Cooperation. There must be strong cooperation between all agencies engaged in the promulgation of agricultural education in the United States. The methods of the various agencies must not clash. There must be no discord. There must be no confusion. All must work in the greatest harmony and unity. If the question arises, as to whether the farmer shall receive the greatest amount of information and education along agricultural lines from many other sources other than that coming from the agricultural colleges, at the risk of hurting the local pride of the agricultural colleges, let the question be answered by telling the farmer to accept the teachings of all legitimate enterprises that can benefit him in any way. "The extension service of th e agricultural colleges is not the only means of disseminating agricultural knowledge, and should never regard itself as the exclusive organ of popular agricultural education." "Indeed every encouragement should be given to all legitimate enterprises that can forward the work of extending the best agricultural knowledge of our time to every corner of the open country. Not only that, but the extension service should consciously seek to utilize other agencies rather than to build up its own particular machinery. In other words, s0 far as possible, the extension service of the agricultural college should regard itself not as a piece of machinery but as a group of men devoted to the one task of reaching the farmers 2 through any available means." 1. Report of Comm.on Ext.Work.1911.page 19. 2. Report of Comm.on Ext.Work.1911.page 20 1 |