The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-03-03
GEN. s. D. LEE ON FARMING.

''lt is a great problem how to reach
our Southern farmers and benefit
them much. | am not u OF those
who believe that the Southern farmer
is in 4 very bad fix. but On the on
triry. he is In a far better fix than he
was ten years ago, and has been gen
orally getting in better fix all the
time. There is still great room for
Improvement Ia the line Of intensive
farming and diger-ilcation, The
great trouble in farmers attempting
Investigation is that they jump sud-
denly from all cotton aud corn to all
stock and grass aud daIryiug. True
diycr>iiioation IL a gradual progress
in painting and raising crops which
viii do away with the necessity of
the industrious farmer purchasing eX-
tcnsiyely in the open market, and
whenever he raises 50 much for his
personal use as 10 do away with cX-
teusivc Supplies To he bought. he gets
on a firm and substantial basis. one
great djilicuily which he has general
ly 10 eucuut ter is the negro lahUrer,
who knows nothing else than cotton
aud the ecesIiIy o. quitting IN all TIL"
land possible in the hope Of making
it pay. Now, the remedy for this Is,
in my Judgment, to carry the inior-
nation to the average farmer in every
cuuuty. which viii enable him to in
diligently diversity his crops and en-
ploy labor, which Is always expensive
in The line of extensive farming.
Somehow The average farmer does not
see the importance Of scientific
knowledge in farming and ridlcule 1t.
70 get This information to him, the
only successful method. 50 far that !
huuw, is to hold farmers Institutes
everywhere, having them conducted
by Incl who, in addition to having Il
scientific knowledge OF agriculture,
can readily discuss with the farmers
everywhere their condition and the
advantage Of Il change. This has been
pntitnhi1p lItI.nElfp1 II, ,,nt,p ,f fl,n
northwestern states and has relieved
the condition Of farmers to Il great.
extent by aiding them to introduce Il
more intelligent and 4 better paying
system OF farming. Agricultural col
legcs IN the state are turning out
good men, capable vt performing the
various duties OF farmers Institutes.
A farmers institute is merely an ex-
]pericncc meeting of farmers intelli-
gently guided by educated men in
practical aud scientific agriculture.
These views are submitted TO you
for what they are worth, us | believe
them To be in the right line.
). ID. LEE"
DIVERSITY THAT plvEgsIFlES.
Gen. Lee endorses an article by
Professor Wclborn. of the Agricultu.
raj aud Mechanical College, who
makcs the point that the town peo-
pie must help the farmer diversity
his crops by Turning \ fair market for
varied products OF the farm.
Under the caption Of diversity
tina Diversitics," Mr.. W. c. Welborn,
professor OF agriculture Of the State
Mechanical College, published the
following very interesting and timely
article In the Southern Farm Gazette
Of Starkville, Miss:
Now, IL we are In earnest about
advising Il farmer friends to d.
>er>ity their crops, let us give them
u little substantial encouragement in
some of the following ways: Keep up
the good work OF advising them to
diversity, us we have all been doing.
They are about convinced now. Then
engage country hams, bacon and lard.
Make your arrangements through the
spring and summer, 50 the farmer
will know what to count on, and pre-
pare to grow what you want. In