The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-20
Farmers Institute at Port Gibson

EDITOR CLARION: The idea of reform
in agriculture is becoming 2 fixed one
fixed By necessity. Careless farming
might "do, where nature had fertl-
lied the land, and turned il over, ID
virgin wealth; exhausted lands need
physician.
Like a sick patient the S.ate Of Mis-.
sissippi "builded wiser than she knew
in the A. & NJ. College. Here Is the
physician. Medicine from this source
has Just been administered here IN
healthfui doses. Ours is a very sick
patient and needed the doctor badly.
The Farmers Institute, just held here,
under tire auspices of Gen. Lee and 4.
x n. Faculty was a success. 1t brought
out the best farmers of our county.
They came and listened. They piled
the gentlemen from Starkyille with
questions, with an eagerness and earn
estness, indicative Of the d5ep-eeated
interest IN the occasion. They felt
something was wanted wanted badly.
They came to see ii these gentlemen
could supply the want. They found II
was nothing wonderful at last-that
they already had l.; and as Gen. Lee
told them, il was but common sense
But in all the earnestness Of deep con
vietion,, he told them, it must be used,
and at once and quickly, or they would
lose their lands. Others would get
them, who would apply the great remedy
Of common sense" Manure the land
with brains, laid he, and from this text
he spoke to our people with all the force
of profound conviction and patriotic
fervor that the great cause in which he
is enlisted and leading deserves; and il
is not too much 20 say that he fixed and
anchored that truth deep down in the
convictions of his hearers.
The Farmers Institute is a most etfec-
tive method of agricultural agitation
1t is great teacher. 1t should be
"abroad in land" like the other teacher
and it should not tire, or cease till The
industrial thought and energy of the
State is aroused to the emergency upon
US, and the great possibilities before us
1t should not cease till the reform OF
agricultural methods is brought NJ
abreast with the progress of the age
till the farmer stands in Zine" with his
brother in every other calling.
This State is fortunate in It's Agricul
tural College Fortunate, that Gen
Lee Is the president Fortunate, that
such a man Is willing to throw his
whole soul and energies into a cause
worthy the best ambition of any man
He captured our county most cheerfuliy
was it conceded his admirable fitness
for his place. Of commanding presence
and charming and captivating address
he throws ali the fire and energy of 9
vigorous, ready and actively earnest
nature into his work, and at once leads
persuades and compels TO the end al
which he aims. And what Is that end
Mississippians? The noblest and bes
of earth. TO help the tiller Of the soil
10 aid him to increase the yield OF hi
tolls; to add to the comfort and hdppi
ness OF him and his hearthstone, anc
through him the world at large. A
noble ambition, and worthy OF any
man Worthy of the wisdom OF tht
people of Mississippi, worthy of theil
College, worthy OF its Faculty, anC
worthy of the distinguished presiden
at the head.
The Institute has been Of service t,
our county. Would be of service tt
any county.
1t was happy thought in our law
givers TO devise this College. 1t was
most happy one, that while It's Faculty
| taught the youth OF the State improved
methods in agriculture, they might ant
! should also 90 through It's horoers ant
teach; and iuIuse new hope and life int
those actively engaged in the duties 0
| the farm with the institute. 1t tell
US of our weaknesses and shortcoming
in our methods it holds out to us tn
/ : h
intelligent experiment; 1t rings tn
''alarm bel" over a crushed and decaye'
| agriculture, and calls our people togetne
to see, the earning upon the one hand
the Telqs2y aad Ihe h0pe upon the other
Our community Is resonant with tn
healthfui echoes of this Institute, an
the hum of the discussion OF the reform
in agricultural methods Is heard o
every hand. Grasses and fertilizer
have superseded politics, and the calr
but earnest consideration OF our rea
wants and woes, the hurtful, heate
political controversy.
Since 1875 and '76 we've had goo
Democratic roof over our house, bu
precious little to put inside that house
The government has been satlsfactor
ly administered, but all the same ou
agriculture and farmers have been goln
surely on the ''down grade. How ldl'
then, the great passion for polite
when the great question OF maxim
bread is so little attended to. Now ths
the government is in safe hands, no
far more important should be the them
of industrial reform" the means {
making bread anG meat, and saving
ourselves and posterity to the homes "
inhabit and the very lands upon vhic
we stand and that are in danger OF slil
ping from under our feet. For sham
people of Mississippi
Let the theme change. Let the Ia
mers' Institute" continue around OF
State in its good work, till politics sha
be the secondary, and agriculture an
''Industrial Reform" the bread and me
!, question, the prime, foremost and a
absorbing theme.
"Ring the alarm bell" General, an
continue to let its warning peals stril
down upon the ears and hearts of OIL
people till they fully realize the deaf
| struggle in which they are grappled
old habits and old methods, but, to
that there is surely life, hope and b
future in the new.
, All honor then. say We, and say t
good people of Claiborne county
Gen. Lee and the A. < M. Colleg
Their calling is the noblest, the grandt
and the best on earth-the ameliorati'
and improvement of that industry, th
; lies at the very foundation of all III
wealth and prosperity. God speed the
in the great work, and speed the " Fs
0 mers' Institute" with its teachings,
. spirations and hope throughout t
> land. Aud as the. State of Mississip
! in the A. & NJ. Cellege "builded wis
than it knew so may it be wise to be
up and on this noble enterprise to t
completion of its grand purpose-o
States Industrial Reform"
A Russian medical journal max
public system of treatment for aeu