The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-30

,rcss;vr' solid. thinking farmers from
all parts OF the state, whose l','crtS',
iur lrttcrs arc now being published
weakly IN this paper, commend and al"
yor,tc I'armcls' Institutes. Some re-
f,,sc TO commit themselves on this par
ticuIar sub icct, giving us reason that
they are rot familiar with the work.
nus Of these institutes. Since there
'apDcars to be an almost unanimous
expression Of sentiment favorable 10
these social and educational orsauiza-
tions, the time seems ripe for lmmc-
date action along that line. No time
or season OF the year could be more APP
propriate for the inauguration Of their
Dcnilicicnt works than at this parlicu-
lar period. While our lands are being
prepared, crops pitched, and the whole
years work is bcfoln u, we w0uld
wish to know the best plans I" adopt
and the best systems for guiding Us
during the crop seasons.
For the Information Of those who
arc not familiar with the workings OF
farmers institutes we Will say, they
arc sim DIV schools for the adult farmer.
They are local Organlzatl0Es composed
county, who feel that their condition
needs bcttcriny, who wish 10 learn the
latest and most approved mcthod> in
farming and who are willing to be ben
clitcd by the practical experiences OF
farmers whose success in amy hraucll
Of agriculture has bccu conspicuous.
They are important agents in the cdu
cation Of the farmer in those states
where they have become popular.
While they have not displaced meet
inSs held by the state or local ayricul.
tural societies, they now exceed them
i'll number i'll the United States and
are far reaching III thci: usefulness.
The views of farmers are brnaduncd
by close, social contact with one an.
other and in Interchange OF ideas
which are capable OF practical applica-
ton. III costs nothing to organize or
hold these societies together.
10 be effective, Il society should be
located and not merged into Il state on
ganization. This would prevent its
use FOR political purposes. Oncc any
kind OF agricultural association mcrlcs
INTO politics, lis future usefulness for
the masses is doomed. The farmer
can take his part III politics as an indl-
Vldllal TO better advantage than he can
thro"yl his agricultural association.
Alter the institute is organized Il
program is arranged for the UcNt meet
lng, which ShUull be h, ld nj least once
each month. The subjects selected
should be discussed by practical farm
CrS who Will be invited to rive their
~ I.I "a, 1,..
previously agreed upon. These iuvi.
tatlons for addresses miyh, be cXlcudc,l
TO farmers in nvighhUrimw districts.
There are ALWAYS numbers OF pro-
grcssivc farmers who are ever ready to
respond t such invitations, quite will
ing to aid in the good wurN of -llrA-rr
oping the agricultural mt Gr-,;tt,c Of their
STATE "n'! eager 10 beii0 their co work.
erS III cvcrA~&uy possible. Speakers
upon scientific subjects, relating to the
arl OF agriculture, may be occasionally
invited. Scientific discussions OH the
different characters OF soil, their
treatment and best manner for hand
ling them for storing up moisture the
effects of manur1s for plant food
what particular plant foods our prnci.
pal crops require, and III what propor-
ton applications should be made in
order to obtain The best results. The
scientist, coming in contact with the
practical farmer, will soon lind out by
actual practice whether theories a. adj
Vocatcd aS results I"m small cXprm-
mcntS are correct or false.
one good feature Of the institute i;
the invitation extended at all times 10
any one present al the meetings to ask
questions relating 20 any department
OF his farming about winch he pav be
In doubt. Usually question is pre-
pared and used by the members,
answers being given Dy the presiding
officer OF the institute.
Wherever the institutes have been
organized and properly conducted we
hnu them growing in usefulness and in
many States increasing in number
Once The farmers Of the South take
hold and earnestly commerce. 4 cru
SADIE fo: the establishment and main-
tcnancc Of these institutes. their be-
nilccnt effects Will soon be felt. Thr,
VIII grow IN interest and u>riUlnr~,
uhtll every community has its organ
lzcd society educating and developing
10 the highest standard each indivil-
ual farmer, whether he be tenant OF
the humblcst means or the extensive
landowner. Any county or community
can organize without the aid Of out
side help. Let the progressive men of
your county, OF whom there are always
many, feeling the present stress OF
the times, recognizing The necessity Of
introducing and building up correct
systems Of farming that Will tend to
the more universal success AMONG
their people, go TO work and start the
ball in motion.
Gather The people together in these
monthly meetings, cnthusc them with
the wonderful resources Of our South
ern country, and impress upon them
the Fact that we as farmers, having
made mistakes in The past, have 1t yet
IN our power to r,cuIy them. That