Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-11-17
FARMER PLANTER.
THOUGHTS FOR FARMERS.
Model Farms aud Experiment stations
Local Farmers' Clubs, TarmorE
Institutes

Institutes
In each and every county through
out our heaven-blest sunny southland
there should be at least one farm that
should be recognized by every rural
resident of that individual county as
model farm; n farm conducted on
economical and comon sense princi-
pies, and that should serve as an OBJ
ject lesson for the farmers of that
county.
This model farm should not be sup
ported by an annual appropriation
from either the state or national gov
ernments, but should be made self
sustaining from its very inception
with this single eXception-that
sllillful and progressive farmer should
be in charge of it, and fertilizers
should be furnished to him free of
cost for the first, second, and possibly
the third year, and salary paid the
farmer himself commensurate with
the importance of the work in which
he is engaged,
This model farm should be an ex-
perimental farm in the most compre-
hensive meaning of the term, yet
everything about it shoul be intensely
| practical. Mr.. John NJ. Claiborne, in
the August 10 issue of Texas Farm
and Ranch, says there should be an
experimental station in the coast coun-
try, in the Panhandle, in east Texas,
and in north Texas. We will go far
ther than that gentleman, and say that
an experimental farm mot station)
should be brought into being in each
and every county in the state. As
that gentleman says, object lessons
are the best mode of instruction;
hence the necessity for an object les
son in every county, so that all can
see. We don't need any more expert
mental stations, but we do need, and
need them badly, more experimental
farms, where the more scientific teach
ings of the stations may be reduced to
practice.
Next in value, as n source of educa-
tion for the average farmer, we will
place local farmers clubs, and in con-
nection with said clubs, prize crops.
Nothing is better for any farming
community than the promotion of a
friendly rivalry, wholesome spirit of
emulation among the farmers of that
community; and we know of no better
way of bringing about this friendly
| v.iy f.
selves to meet together at regular
stated intervals and devise ways and
means whereby little money can be
raised for the special purpose of Of
fering prizes for the best acre, or five
acres, or ten acres, of corn, wheat
oats, grass, hay, rye, Irish potatoes
sweet potatoes, melons, peanuts, OF
even cotton.
Next to farmers clubs, as an educa.
tional feature, we wouldplace the agri.
, cultural press of the country. We con.
slider it superfuous for us to state
that it is just as important for the
farmer to read up and study his bust
ness as it is for a doctor to study his
medicine, the lawyer 10 study law, the
preacher to study Gods Word, or oul
I commercial magnates the laws govern.
3 ing supply and demand, exchange, etc
This study on the part of the farmer is
not only just as important, but it is
also just as profitable and just as in
evitably essential.
}. Next to farm journals, experiment
station bulletins and farm literature
: genearlly fill quite an important mich,
in the educational superstructure
After raising one or two prize crops
the county fair will follow as a matter
of course. 1t will be found one of the
indispensables.
Last on the list we will place farm
ers' Institutes. w wish we coulC
{ place it first, but, unfortunately
: we can not Why not? Because farm
y, ers' institutes rarely reach the ones i
is especially desirable that they SHOULD
reach, viz, the average farmer Tit
!. same is true of the agricultural press
4 The average farmer is difficult t,
q reach by these means. Will the mode
a or experimental farm reach him? Yes
/. eventually. Win the local farmers
4 clubs reach him? Yes, right at once
. There is no manner of doubt abou
n this. This is our honest opinion. Now
let's hear from you. C. II. Turner, il
/ 4