The record-union., 1898-12-07

the agricultural college, the bulletin of
the experiment station and the farm
paper, that is really worth anything to
them. Had these men been taught in
their youth in the common schools, the
meaning of the terms used in agricult-
ural chemistry, something of the prin-
ciples of animal husbandry, something
of the true principles which underlie
the preservation of fertility, they would
be to-day in much more harmonious
relation with all that constitutes agri-
cultural progress. May we not hope
that this congress will create a. senti-
ment that will greatly help along this
needed educational reform.
THE Farmers National Congress is a
patriotic body. The meaning of patri-
otism is self sacrifice Without sacri-
flee, there can be no patriotism. The
very fact that you have assembled here.
many from great distance, and az
your own expense, gives proof of your
public spirit, your anxiety tO benefit the
cause of agriculture and of your prac-
tical patriotism. The country needs
such patriotism. To that must we lock
for the extinction of corruption in poll
tics, the promotion of honest Govern
ment, the suppression of crime, the en-
couragement of honest industry and
just reward to labor as well as capital.
Like all other lines of human
thought and action, the American
farmer and his farm are going through
process of evolution The manufac-
turer feels it, and his capital and enter
prise can hardly keep pace with COM
ing changes; craftsmanship feels it, for
new and difficult problems of Govern
ment constantly present themselves,
and how TO keep center and circumfer-
ence in harmonizing growth is the prob
lem of the day. The railroad magnate
feels it and must bow to it
What is this subtle power that is so
mysteriously leavening the whole lump?
1t is growth of knowledge among the
people. With knowledge comes new
views of things.
4 Heretofore our vision has been di-
rected almost wholly to the price we
were to receive for our products. The
present tide of evolution bears US in
another direction. We cannot control
prices; the market end of the question
is beyond the individual reach or modifi-
cation of any farmer. What can he
do, what must he do to increase his
profit, for on that hangs his prosperity.
This must he do: He must realize that
he is no longer a crude producer; he is
manufacturer. He must invoke
science, invention, better system, more
thorough organization among his fellow
farmers, more exhaustive study of the
underlying principles of his business,
improved methods, everything he can
lay hold of, to contribute to a reduc-
tion of the cost of production.
He is subject to the same economic
laws as is every other manufacturer.
The world declares it will have cheap
food and clothing, for such is the hu-
name order of our civilization The
American farmer is in the forefront of
a merciless competition for from the
soil must come primarily all food and
clothing. He must furnish, as good as
the best, or he will lose the market
He must do this at a living cost, and
keep up the fertility of the soil, or he
and his farm will both perish by the
way. The demands of modern civiliza-
tion are expensive. It costs more to
live, educate his children and be man
among men, than it did his father fifty
of the difficulty as I can see. He must
put more thought into this question of
the cost of production. That is his end
of the proposition, the farm end, the
only end within his control. Hereto
fore the cry has been more land until
the farm has become bigger than the
farmer. This makes expensive farming.
The necessities of the hour say, make
the farmer bigger than the farm To
keep two acres, or two animals, or two
machines or two men to do the work
of one, is wasteful farming. There is
no longer a renumerative market for
the product of such expensive methods.
1.-The progress of economic thought
and understanding has enriched every
other class in society more than the
farmer. A number of our farm pro-
ducts are produced just as extensively
as they were forty years ago. Ancient
farming no longer pays We can do
something if we are practical men to
help along a reform in this respect
among our brethren.
Our ability to retain the markets of
the world depends almost entirely upon
our economic skill Our talk about
cheap land has, I fear, cheapened our
thought and our estimate of what is
involved. Expansion in acres, or in
national possessions, will not help u.s.
The expansion of the brain, skill and
judgment of the farmer will help. Let
us never lose sight of, or forget, that
the great objective point of all farm
ers' organizations is to make better
farmers. From this Pierian spring will
flow stream of blessings to the whole
country"
Senior Miguel Romero, representative
from Guatemala, addressed the Con-
gress on the progress of agriculture in
his country.
Secretary of Agriculture James A.
Wilson wired his regrets
Booker T. Washington of Georgia
spoke tonight on the negro problem.
His address was we'll received.
The sugar beet industry was the prin-
cipal question discussed by the Con-
gress to-day. Representatives from
Eddy, N. NJ, presented the subject be-
fore the congress in concise manner.
The results thus far show the indus
try to be profitable and reasonably sure
Over forty thousand acres of the Eddy |
district are susceptible to beet culture,
at present $4,000 acres being under cul-
tivation.
The live stock industry is we'll repre-
sented, many of the wealthiest stock
men being present. The attendance is
not as large as was anticipated.
Save money by buying your tea and |