The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-08-30
RESPONSE BY PRESIDENT OF THE
INSTITUTE.
(P. w. FooTE, IRvINGToN, KY

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF AssoCIA-
TON Il am sure that none of you will
feel that we are among strangers after so
warm reception given us by the agri-
cultural and social forces of this favored
section, and such frank and complete
sympathy in the exalted work we are
trying to do.
The very fact that you have assembled
here, many coming from distance and
at your own expense is proof Of your
public spirit and your anxiety to benefit
the cause of agriculture.
We are just beginning to feel that ag-
riculture is an intellectual as we'll as
manual persuit and that the farm pre-
SCENTS a magnificent domain for intellec.
tusl conquests.
The great objective point Of all farm
ers' organizations is to make better
farmers, for the progress of ecomic
thought and understanding has enriched
all classes more than us.
In no state perhaps have the farmers
been talked to less on the true princi-
Piles that underlies farming, than in
Kentucky, II we farmers would try to
know more we might work less and get
better results. II we would fertilize our
brain our fields would soon become more
fertile, and produce better crops, and we
would have more money, instead OF
sliding down the hill into bankruptcy
from a lack Of agricultural knowledge.
But they say it is not practical, some
men never stop to think what is the
meaning OF the word practical. They
seem to think it is practical to reject the
truth simply because some college pro-
lessor said it,
They have put lock on their under
standing in the shape Of a prejudice
against whatever they see in book or a
paper or against, what some one says
about scientific stock feeding, and say it
is not practical, nothing but theory,
book farming, etc.
Oh, gentlemen the word practical
forms very convenient cover for some
men to hide behind when they do not
see clearly themselves. They seem to
think that things they do not understand
are not practical, when perhaps a near
neighbor is demonstrating every day
that It is profitable and that alone makes
II practical.
The main object then Of this organiza-
ton Is 10 get the farmers Of Brecken-
ridge and aioining counties to see the
necessity Of more intellect and better
methods on the farm, and to arrest the
tendency to destroy the natural fertility
Of the soil.
Some Of the questions for this asso-
citation TO ask itself are What can we
DO In an organised way 10 help enamel
pate this great business OF farming from
a lack Of comprehension. How can we
contribute 10 the freeing Of the farm
from the Wastelul effects Of ignor-
anoe and put In lis place the enrichinR
Influences Of knowledge. In a word,
what can we do to promote farm sduca.
ton.
Certainly the hrst OF most potent lao
tor that We have Is In the farm institutes
for Il brings us face 10 face with the
most practical and successful farmers in
our section. We arc sure to got many
nav and valuable Ideas 10 these meet.
ings, and new ideas generally create On.
lhunasm. aud enthusiasm makes %
push, and ihi1 word "push" tells ua The
SECRET d uneoea more than any other
word
I00n comes our aadon|iula| JoUna|a
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