The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-17
DOES FARMING PAY IN NORTH CARO-
LINA2

@0S@N~l
of man" All of which is doubtless
true-perhaps not one farmer in a
hundred would deny it. Yet it is not
unnatural that they desire some
thing more than the healthfulness,
usefulness, and nobility of their avo-
cation. To make it's attractions
complete, it must also be profitable.
These thoughts are suggested by
an address recently delivered by
President George T. Winston and by
a letter we recently received from a
farm boy.
In the address referred to, Presi-
dent Winston, speaking of the re-
sources of North Carolina, said
"Our soil is poor, far poorer than
the average. The yield per acre of
corn in the United States is % bush
els, in North Carolina, II of wheat,
10 bushels, in North Carolina, z: of
oats, 26 bushels, in North Carolina,
II. Our yield per acre of cotton and
tobacco is apparently o satisfac-
tory, but the cost of production is
greater than elsewhere, owing to the
use of commercial fertilizers. 1t
wiU be q hard struggle for North
Carolina to produce prOfta6Jy under
present conditions any agricultural
products 9Ohich must be sold, either
IN whOLe or in part, as r0o0 material
IN the markets of the WOrJd."
81 say under present conditions,
for conditions must be changed in
the future, as they have been in the
past. The fertility of our soil must
be increased by better methods of
cultivation and fertilization, and the
cost of production must be dimin-
ished by better skill, larger knOwl-
edge and the use of machinery. The
ultimate solution of our farming
problem depends upon three factors
1. The increased fertility of the soil,
secured through industrial education
and a better knowledge of scientific
agriculture. 2. Decreased cost of
production, promoted by the in,
creased use of machinery, by the
utilization of waste material and by
the application of more skill and in
telligence in every department of
farm labor. 3. Local markets, fur
nished by growth of manufactures
and increase of cities and towns"
President Winston stated further
that while the average Tar Heel
farmer cannot under present condi-
tiOns prOftably produce many of the
staple agricultural products to be
sold as raw material, that our State
does possess marvellous advantages
for trucking, fruit-growing, and
stock raising.
The letter to which we referred is
not more calculated to develop our
vanity than the first paragraph of
DR.. WinstOn's address. We quote
"Your agricultural writer's are
always telling US that the farm is
the place for us boys. Well, 1 just
wanted to tell you that I've stayed
on the farm, and I find it to be a
most lovely place. only work four
teen hours a day, for which I receive
the enormous sum of So d month.
Ofcourse I would soon lay by a hand
some fortune with regular work at
such a large salary at least 1 might
if 1 should live long enough, and
never had to spend anything. But
the job lasts for only about six
months Of the year. 1 am not very
anxious to get rich, but I believe I
ought to be rewarded with a COM
Portable living, if l work faithfully.
What 1 want to ask you is this Do
you think a boy in my position, be-
ginning without a penny, could
make a comfortable living by farm
ing here?"
One Of our modern philosophers
has said, Where there's a will.
there's a way" An old Roman hero
said, Wen find a way or make it."
Tar Heel farmers must tackle the
problem, How to make the farm
with something of the same
spirit and determination.
We believe that under present con
ditions there r few occupations
more inviting than farming. With
education, organization, co-opera-
ton, it's golden age would be at
hand. But it is useless to deal in
oanara litiaS or thonrinc A. IL