The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-04-25
trustworthy seedmen or other farmers. =
Neu York World.
A Revolution in Farming.


In Harper's Magazine, Mr.. Charles
Dudley Warner has remarkably inter
esting article entitled: "Studies OF the
Great West"
Speaking of the State University of
Wisconsin, Mr.. Warner praises its agri-
cultural apartment in high terms; but
what impresses him most is the connec-
tion of the university with the farmers
Institutes. Under recent act OF the
Legislature, farmers institutes have been
organized, and placed under the control
of the regents of the university, who
have the power to select State Super
intendent to control them. The farmers,
therefore, while not actually students of
the university, are directly instructed by
it. The State appropriates s12,
year to this work, and the money has
been found sufficient to pay the salaries
of the Superintendent and his assistants
and the expenses of specialists who are
called in from time to time. In forty
five counties last year there were held
eighty-two farmers institutes. At the
meetings 2I9 practical topics were dis
cussed, and 1Oi lecturers were employed.
The meetings arc managed by local COM
mittees, and every effort is made to inter-
est the farmers and bring them to the
front.
Before the organization of these insti-
tu,es, the farmers of Wisconsin depended
mostly upon one crop, spring wheat,
and IN bad years they suffered greatly,
as they had nothing else to fall back
upon. But the institutes changed all
this. The farmers at their meetings dis
cussed clover as fertilizer; recuperative
agriculture; bee-kccping; household
economy; the education of farmers
daughters; the economy of sheep hus.
bandry; egg production; poultry; the
value of thought and application in
farming; horses to breed for the farm
and market; breeding and management
Of swine; mixed farming; corn culture;
breeding and care of cattle; small fruits;
butter-making; the country roads, etc.
Mr.. Warner says in conclusion: The
farmers have been enabled to protect
themselves against the effects of drought
and other evils. Taking the advice OF
the institute In 1856, the farmers planted
so, 900 acres of cnsilage corn, which
took the place of the short hay crops
caused by the drought. This pro-
vision saved thousands of dollars worth
of stock in several counties. From
all over the State comes the testimony OF
farmers as to the good results of the in
stitute work, like this: Several thou
sand dollars worth of improved stock
have been brought in. Creameries and
cheese factories have been established
and we'll supported. Farmers are no
longer raising grain exclusively, as here
tofore. Our hillsides are covered with
clover. Our farmers are encouraged to
labor anew. A new era of prosperity in
our State dates from the farmers in
stitute"
With such results it must be admitted
that the sensible system of agricultural
education adopted in Wisconsin is work
ing admirably. Perhaps precisely the
same plan would not suit the farmers in
every State, but something of the kind,
modified to suit the wants and wishes OF
each locality, would no doubt be found
of great benefit to our agriculturists
everywhere. If these institutes are to be
credited with the revolution in farming
in Wisconsin, they should be given fair
trial in the South, where an agricultural
revolution is most assuredly needed
atlanta Coastitution. d