The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-04
FARMERS MEET IN BOSTON.
NATIONAL CONGRESS GATHERED IN
FANEUIL HALL.

Convention Called to order by Pres
idcnt Hoard. and Welcomed by
Mayor Quincy-President Hoard
Gives Some Points IN the Practi-
cal Side of Fnrming-He Believes
In AEricuIturRI schools and Their
Teachings and Theories.
Boston, Oct 3.-The Farmers National
Congress opened to-day in Fsneun Han.
which was crowded by delegates from all
sections Of the Union.
The convention was called to order by
President w. d. Hoard of Fort Atkinson,
Wis. Josiah quincy, Mayor of Boston,
welcomed the delegates in Boston in be-
half of the city, and Gen. Francis Apple
ton OF Gov. Wolcotrs staff, spoke Cor the
state
Responses were made by President
Hoard and others, and President Hoard
delivered his annual address, reviewing
the work of the past year. He said in
part:
The principle drawback and him
drance TO agricultural thought, profit and
progress Is lack OF union and sympa-
thy between scientific theory and the ev-
ery-day practice OF the farm. As vet
there is a wide gulf between the teacher
OF agricultural science and the working
Farmer, and our farmers are especially
lacking In appreciation OF the great value
TO them OF the scientific teacher There
needs TO be instituted new order OF
teaching agriculture in this country, such
as Is being done in some of the coun-
tries of Europe There should be estab-
lished at various places in each state ex-
pertinent and demonstrating farms carried Z
on by men who can correlate both science
and practice.
The average farmer has too little SYM
patty for agricultural schools or for or
sanized methods for better agricultu-
raj education. This is seen in the fact
that, as class, nc spends thousands OF
dollars to educate his children TO be law
yers or doctors, where he spends 81 20
especially III them TO be intelligent farm
ers But few farmers believe there Is such
thing as science of agriculture The
great mass do not believe that the thing
We call farming can be taught to their
children from books or schools
do you suppose that the farmers who
swafmed out of New England and New
\ DIRK into Ohio, Michigan Indiana and
the farther West would have reduced the
fertility Of their lands as they have done
If they had been taught In the country
schools, when boys the meaning and
methods OF conserving nitrogen, phospho-
ric acid and potash, as fertilizing aeents7
those agents Of all plant growth mentioned
in the studies of his boyhood2
The difference between successful and
unsuccessful men in all callings Is not
luck, but rather judgment and energy
Good judgment is an act of the mind ana
one must have a mind well stored with
sound knowledge, and well trained to use
IL, in order to exercise the best judgment
The outcome Of the labor OF hands win
depend not upon the strength of the hands
but upon the soundness of the ideas which
governs the hands.
"As farmers, we need TO be constantly
agitated from the standpoint of maintain
ing the fertility of our soil by the wisest
administration Of the forces at our com
mand. II has been stated, with how much
accuracy / cannot say that the decline IN
The values of farm lands in The last thirty
years In the state of New York alone has
reached the enormous sum of over one
billion dollars. The same condition an
plies to she farming lands in greater or
less proportion, from Indiana eastward to
the Atlantic coast. The loss in agricul-
tural wealth to the nation, arising from
this condition, Is almost beyond calcula-
ton. The only increase in either popula-
ton or wealth, in the territory named has
been in the cities and villages In the
country there has been a manifest decline
in the productivity Of the farm and the
pride and ambition of the farmer. Two
causes. in my opinion, have conspired to
this lamentable result First, the drainage
TO the city of the best mental elements OF
the farm. Mind always goes before mat
ter. Second, a corresponding and consc-
quenlial drainage in the same direction OF
I ne productive elements OF the farm. Fer
tility has been sold out OF the soil nv the
bushei and by the ton.
"The agricultural mind OF this country
must come 10 better comprehension than
+ has had of this chain OF causes for The
decline ana enrichment of a country. We
must settle down practically and hard-fo
The conclusion thai VIC must commence
with the child II we are going 10 make
good farmers, for without good farmer.
the country VIII soon so to destruction
There Is the highest statesmanship and
love Of country involved in this question.
ii should engage the earnest attention ~
the educational and political forces OF he
nation.
There is larger need than ever iu our
nations history for The old time rssoIuie
Of character and political
Judgment which once characterized the
american farmer. A corrupt and debauch-
ing spirit OK commercialism pervades our
political atmosphere and poisons the foun-
lains of law, liberty and progress | would
not advocate The formation Of an agricul-
Iurel party 10 correct this evil or do
not believe that any man should adminis-
Ter his political duty In his country ac-
aoflipg 10 the trade he follows the race
DC be.onss 50 or The religion ho pr0fesSes
But / DO hope 70 see the farmers stand
forth as strongly as they did OF yore tho
terror % corrupt politicians and the hope
81 honest government everywhere.