The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-11-05
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THOUGHTS FOR FARMERS.
Model Farms and Experiment stations
Local Farmers' Clubs. Farmers'
Institutes


Institutes
In each and every county through
out our heayen-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; farm conducted on
economical and comon sense prinei-
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 it's very inception
with this single exception-that Il
skillful 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 a 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
Their 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 a source of educa
ton 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 /;
friendly rivalry, a wholesome spirit O
emulation among the farmers of tina
community; and we know of no bette
way of bringing about this friendl,
rivalry than for the farmers them
selves to meet together at regula
stated intervals and devise ways ant
means whereby little money can b
raised for the special purpose of of
fering prizes for the best acre, or fiv
acres, or ten acres, of corn, wheat
oats, grass, hay, rye, Irish potatoes
sweet potatoes, melons, peanuts, O
even cotton.
Next to farmers clubs, as an educa
tional feature, we would place the agri
cultural press of the country. We con
slider it superfuous for us to stat
that it is just as important for tn
farmer to read up and study his bust
ness as it is for doctor to study hi
medicine, the lawyer TO study law, tn
preacher to study Gods Word, or ou
commercial magnates the laws govern
ing supply and demand, exchange, etc
This study on the part of the farmer j
not only just as important, but it i
also just as profitable and just as in
evitably essential.
Next to farm journals, experiment
station bulletins and farm literatur
genearlly fill quite an important Mich
in the educational superstructure
After raising one or two prize crops
the county fair will follow as q matte
of course. 1t will be found one of tn
Indispensable.
Last on the list we will place farm
ers' institutes. We wish we coul,
place it first, but, unfortunately
we can not. Why not? Because farm
ers' institutes rarely reach the ones
is especially desirable that they SHOULD
reach, viz, the average farmer. TIL
same is true of the agricultural press
The average farmer is difficult t.
reach by these means. Will the mode
or experimental farm reach him? Yes
eventually. VIII the local farmers
clubs reach him? Yes, right at once
There is no manner of doubt abou
this. This is our honest opinion. Now
let's hear from you. &C. II. Turner, il
| Farm and Ranch.