The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-02-12
No i

schools, an art that four.ffths Of the
boys and girls Of Mississippi must
necessarily earn their support from.
This, too, in face of the fact that the
principles are as well arranged and
understood and as easily mastered by
dull boys and girls as all the dry
facts Of arithmetic, grammar, spell
ing, geography or histoTies The
great straits to which the farming
classes or peasants in Europe were
brought about the beginning Of this
century has made q complete revo
luton in agriculture. IN 1910, just
forty eight years ago, Leibig reduced
to practical and scientific order what
was necessary to maintain fertility i'll
soil and to restore fertility. AS 8
consequence, there are now over 400
agricultural schools and colleges in
Germany. The same system is found
in France and other European States.
AS a result of this thorough system
of agricultural education among the
peasants, the yield per acre Of land
in Europe has been gradually increas
ing, while in the United States statis.
tics show it is gradually decreasing
The statistics as to the condition Of
the agricultural classes III the United
States points to theiabsolute necessity
of their being better educated The
census of 1880 brought out the fact
that In the decade of 1850 to 1860
the farmers were one-half of the popu.
lation, and had increased the produc.
tive wealth during the ten years lOl
per cent, and that they owned just
one-haIf of the wealth of the entire
country In 1880 they were still
nearly one-haH of the population, btstt
during the decade, 1870 to $50, they had
only increased this productive wealth
9 per cent instead l0l per cent. from
1850 to 1860, showing . lossof 80
per cent. in twenty years; also that
in 1880 they, as class, only owned
one-fourth of the entire wealth of the
country instead of one-ha1f as in 1860.
It is even q0orse than tbs for much of
the land Of farmers is mortgaged
This mortgage il the States of
Indiana, Illinois, Niscon Michigan
Minnesota, Iowa, ebraska, Kansas
and Missouri estimated at S3,422,
600, 900. aslt is notorious fGctE
now, thai sdds in these States Kave
greatly 3epreciated in value and the
farm lands of the New England
S lies and New York very much of
ate. To put it in different shape, in
the twenty years, 1860 To 1880, the
farmers added to the agricultural
wealth of the entire United States
$4, I22, ,588, ,487, then composing about
one-half Of the entire population.
During this twenty years the other
half of the population mot farners
added to the wealth of the country
S23, 359, 794, ,354, or nearly 500 per
cent. more than the farmers made.
This shows at least lack of compare
tive prosperity with the farming
classes, and this is the reason so many
farmers and their children are quit
ting the farms and engaging IA more
lucrative pursuits. This accounts,
too, for the rapid building up Of cifies
and corporations This IS why ~
per cent. of our population Is 10 be
found in towns and cities ID 1883,
while only per cent lived IL towns
and cities in 1900.
The great progress now being
made in the world has brought about
new conditions, which affect the farm.
ers For instance, the facility and
Scheapness Of transportation has done
away with all local competition Ii
1880 itscost IS cents to transport
bushel Of grain from the West to
New York, or from New York to
Liverpool. Now it only costs about
q cents; SO thrifty farmers ii any
country have not only toeompefe with
each other, but with thrifty farmers
In the West, and, ia fact all oyer the
world Skill and invention has
brought down prices in all products.
including farm products. The farmer,
therefore, must be educated and Be
come more skilled, or he viii be at
the mercy Of other callings
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK