The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-23


dence in the business ability of each
has been gained. Unity among the
farmers is one Of the greatest needs
Of the present day. A careful,
thoughtful study Of the resources OF
the country will open up system OF
diversified farming, which will bring
profit and pleasure to the agricultu-
ralist. Every farmer should have a
thorough knowledge Of commercial
paper and understand some system of
keeping books. At the beginning Of
each year detailed account Of what
he owns should be taken down, repre-
senting his capital invested. An
itemized account Of every dollar ex-
pended, whether cash or credit, should
be carefully entered. The cost Of la
Dor employed and the materials used
in the production Of the various crops
should be specially accounted. At
the end of the year his books will
show the profits or loss Of the busi-
ness. Wherever errors existed in the
management, the defects could be
readily found and remedies applied.
The boys growing up on the farms will
catch the inspiration Of systematic
, methods and business training, which
they will be able to utilize with profit
and to their own advantabc in future
years.
| I appreciate the fact that the days
Of schooling, as VIC ordinarily use the
term, for the adult farmer has passed:
that the only hope for the present and
future cultivation of his mental fac
ulties and the bettermcntyo his ma
terial prosperity must lie in the local
organization of farmers Institutes.
The farmers institute is without cost
to its membership. I want to give
my aid and encouragement to their es-
tablishment in every county in the
South as rapidly as possible. If you
have no institute in your State organ
ize and begin the battle for greater
success and prosperity in your farm
ing methods. In these institutes the
interchange Of ideas, experience meet
ings, discussing and adopting the
most successful plans pertaining to
our business would meet and over
come many serious obstacles which
retard, as stumbling blocks, our future
pathway. What the farmer needs
most of all at this time is encourage
ment and aid in the solution of such
problems as will help him in his life
work and the building ofa future filled
with contentment, happiness and pros
perity. Organize and attend your in
stitutes with full appreciation Of
your needs and surroundings.
There are no people who have better
opportunities for self-education than
the farmer, and he should be quick to
take advantage Of the circumstances
which place this highly desirable fea-
ture of his avocation within his reach.
That farmer whose business is opera
| ted on self-sustaining basis, who ex-
ercises intelligence, forethought and
correct methods in the conduct Of his
affairs, fears no panic. The tighten
ing of the money market, the crash Of
falling business houses in the great
cities, reach his ears only through the
medium of the heavy headlines Of his
newspaper. He is happy, peaceful
and contented, and only responsible
to his Maker.
But what of the farmer whose home
is mortgaged in the Northern loan
companies, whose stock and crop fur
nish collateral for the purchase Of sup
plies? When the stringency comes,
the crop fails to settle the obligations;
the loans fall due, an extension is
asked for and refused. The iron grip
of the law is evoked, the property is
advertised for sale and knocked down
to the highest bidder. The wife is
torn from home which she has long
learned to love- the little children are
forced from the cherished playground
and another rt-broken farmer is
added to the long and rapidly swelling
lists Of tenants, while one more
Southern home passes into Northern
control. This picture is not drawn
from fancy; its 4ealism is too Of
ten hcralded as one Of the misfor-
tunes of our present farming system.
The solution of the race problem is
matter in which the farmers Of our
country are more largely interested
than anyone else. The field Of most
serious districts is in the rural dis
tricts.
We have assembled here for high