The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-04-01
correspondence
TTT TNPORTAKCE OF INDUSTRIAL EDU,
CATION.

Correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer
You will find enclosed 81, for
which please send your valuable
paper TO me at Keith, N. @. I CON-
slider it money well invested in order
that the superintendent of the farm
NAV be better prepared TO keep up
with the improved ideas on agrioul-
ture that are set forth each week in
your columns, as many an article IS
worth TO the thoughtful mind more
than the cost of the paper.
We can no longer doubt that we Will
have I'd change our mode OF farming
In Eastern Carolina, since 80 many OF
the farm laborers (negroes) have be-
come d~isinterested and are continu-
ally leaving. Our only hope seems
60 be in the small farm, diversified
orops. we'll and economically cu'ti
waited.
Had we realized thirty years ago,
that we, by nature in the way of soil
and climate, have the garden spot
df not the garden) of the United
States, and had abandoned the false
pride, which was one of the blights
thatfollowed slavery, if rich and poor
alike had been taught it was no dis
grace TO work, but a disgrace to re-
main ignorant and in idleness-had
this policy peen pursued, now in
stead of seeing here and there i'm
proved farming, entire country
would be a garden spot where intel
ngence reigns in such force that
reason would govern and not preju-.
dice, and the political d~emagogue
with his deception would have no
following.
Another false idea that has hurt
Us was that the bright boy must have
all the advantages as the University
or some higher college, (many times
at the sacrifice in the way of negle ct
ing the education of the other chill
dren,) and when finished his col
legiate course was made TO believe
that he would be throwing away his
life unless he entered professional
lines. This providing of every branch
that does not require manual labor
TO make a living, must have a ten
dency TO impoverish either by failure
or emigration. The result has been
the South with all it's natural advo0-
tages, instead of being in the lead, is
far behind.
We have grown top-heavy with
too many lawyers, etc, and not
enough educated boys and girls on
industrial lines. If they we're, then
they would see the Importance of
improving our many natural advan-
tages and needs, the lack of which
has caused the young men to flock 80
the cities to take c~lerkships at much
smaller salaries than they could
make on their farms. If they we're
trained industrially, hand and mind,
it would enable them TO determine
the best mode of getting the proper
results from the various soils, crops,
etc. I have never been highly in
favor of State aid TO higher educa
ton to send out professions, when
SO many poor children were growing
up in ignorance, though 1 do not be-
lieve the State could do better in the
way of developing it's own resources,
as we'll as developing the mind of its
people, than to add an industrial de-
partment TO it's free schools, Ger
tainly one in each township.
When this is done the men will
not be found seeking cler kships, and
so many young girls going TO factor
les, in the cities without voice, but
they will become masters of their
own farms and homes, rightly the
rulers of their country.
B. T. KEITH.
New Hanover Co, N. @.
MEMORIES OF OTHER DAYS.