The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-01-19
THE N. c. FARMERS ASSOCIA-
TON.

- : tAIO- AAC0OSA1GAOh
bow Hall and was called to order
promptly at IL o'clock a. m. by Presi
dent. Elias Carr, and was led in prayer
by Rev. Mr.: Wood. The Secretary,
B. F. Hester, of Oxford, being
detained at home by sickness, Mr..
d. NJ. Payne, of Randolph, was made
Secretary pro tenn and Mr.. F. S. Neal,
'of NJ ecklenburg, Assistant. President
Carr then addressed the Association
as follows '.... . .
: Mr.. Carr Said; Our Association may
be congratulated on this, the initial
year of it's existence. Scarcely twelve
months has passed since it's formation
and yet the beneficial results are ap-
parent on every hand The interest
manifested by farmers, all yer the
State, to organize is gratifying and N
c%ouraging. [ am fully impressed with
the correctness and Importance of per-
feet organization-without it we are
but hewers of wood and drawers of
water for all mankind. Hence the
primal teachings of our Assertion, the
complete and thorough organization of
the agricultural interest, cannot be too
emphatically re-afirmed. 1t is crafty
ing to report, that there have been or
ganized throughout the State within
the past year over 400 agricultural
clubs, 254 Farmers Alliances, in Is
counties only, and that hat sturdy and
conservative old body the patrons of
Husbandry have added 1900 new
members to their roll.
Your committees to whom were en-
trusted the presentation of your reso-
lutions to the last legislature worked
assiduously, were carefully heard, and
[ am happy to report in the main sue
cessful. To the working body of those
committees, the gentlemen who re-
NAMED at the capital the thanks Of
this Association are due. The passage
of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College Bill was a long stride in the
right direction. Our languishing agri-
culture demands trained, skilled fol-
lowers. There is increasing need for
wider intelligence and education on
the part of the farmers. In the past
it has been comparatively easy to make
a livelihood by farming. This is be-
coming less true. There is a narrowed
profit. There is more intense compe-
tition. Our systems of farming r be-
coming more complex. A wider in
telligence, more knowledge of the bus
mess in general, and of this especial
business in particular, will be essential
to the successful farmer of the future.
There is much more general recogni-
ton of the value of special education
in schools for those designed to engage
in many other pursuits. There will be
increased appreciation of agricultural
schools. t-.4. .
The agricultural press and, organiza-
lions are doing more than ever before
and are being appreciated. But, as a
class, farmers are conservative. There
is need for example and precept, to IT.
duce the adoption of better methods,
rather than captious and unreasonable
criticism. Let US give to our college and
our Agricultural Department., a most
cordial support; and impress upon u
young men that the welfare of the
State will largely depend upon the
prosperity of it's farmers; that the pros
perity of the farmer will largely de-
pend upon their intelligence and edu-
cation; that any useful knowledge will
help any man, and that knowledge re-
lating especially to his calling will be
doubly useful.
While upon this subject of agricult-
ural education just a word about.
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
There is something wonderfully fac
mating about these new institutions.
If you can once get the farmer to at
tend he will need no persuasion a Sec
ond time. 1t produces thought and
teaches him that he must not measure
the whole world by that little piece of
ground that lies between his fences,
that there are other men that know a
thing or two as we'll as himself. BY
its aid he can keep up with the inn
provements that are made, the new
ideas evolved by experience, the new
ways, the new wants of the present age
and reap the fruits of his calling, to a
liberal share of which he is justle emit.
tied. And if he is SO perverse as. not
to attend the Institute let it go to him.