The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-24
FARMERS FESTIVAL
A Bird s. Eye View by Presi-
dent Winston.
To Become the Great Annual Farmer Mecca
for North caroIin. = ,thsrEHr ss'oss
on tn Convention.


ston is bubbling over with delight and hap
piness. Asked for his view he said
The Farmers Convention was a great
success. In attendance. in interest and
enthusiasm, in strict adherence to the pro
gram, in the character of the speeches
papers and discussions; in manifest de-
termination to promote the interests OF
agriculture and to let other things alone
the convention was probably the most re-
markable gathering held in North Carolina
People came from all over the State
Pamhco was represented. and so was
Pennsylvania. Whole families came, some
In wagons. One farmer brought three
daughters, another brought his wife and
three daughters Men came who had at
tended farmers conventions in half a
dozen States, others who had never al
tended one. All were in earnest, all anXl-
Gus to learn something Nobody came for
frolic or just to have a trip. Men of
wealth were here; men who began life
empty handed, and had amassed fortune
by farming. Some were beginning life as
tenants, and they listened with deep in
terest to the story of successful farming
told by Others a.
The attendance was large from the be-
ginning to the end. Every meeting was
full of interest Nobody loafed around,
nor loitered nor sauntered back and forth.
As soon as each meeting began, the seats
were occupied, about three hundred being
In attendance. Everybody was surprised
and delighted at the very practical charac-
ter Of the speeches and papers, as we'll as
their value for instruction. Questions
were freely asked and fully answered But
there was no gassing, no scouting, nor
oratory.
The range OF topics was great. Papers
were read on the cowpea, on soil improve
ment, on trucking in Eastern North Caro-
lima, on strawberry culture, on good roads,
on smoots and rusts, on soils and fertili-
zers. on extensive farming, on dairy farm
ing, on butter making, on soil culture, on
seed purity and vitality, on Texas fever,
on farm animals. on type and form of
cattle. on the cattle industry in North
Carolina, on plant improvement, on rural
schools, on nature study, on agriculture in
rural schools and on the educational out
look. Every paper and every speech was
carefully prepared Nearly every one was
written out in advance Every man knew
what be was talking about, and therefore,
was interesting and instructive. Every
speaker was in earnest and enthusiastic.
General Ransom's speech was eloquent
and inspiring. What noble spectacle he
was What a patriotic service. Governor
Aycock's speech was a perfect gem of ora
tory. The tales told by R. w. Scott and
E.. w. Brawley and e. L. Daughtridge
should be put in the hands of every coun1
try boy in North Carolina They show
that agriculture in North Carolina dur
ing the past fifteen years. has been profit
able when properly conducted, even that
good sized fortunes have been made from
it. This is no theory, but a plain story
told from the personal experiences of men
who started practically empty-handed and
made their fortunes from the soil itself.
The speeches by Prof. Burkett and Prof.
Stevens were most instructive and delight
full. Mr.. BlacknalPs paper was very sug-
gestive. Prof. Massey spoke with great
power and learning. DR.. Weber, OF
Washington, and Mr.. Tomlison gave de-
lightful lectures. Mr.. VIM. Dunn's paper
was strong and interesting Prof. Kilgore
and Dr. Butler spoke with the nuency
and attractiveness given by large knowl-
edge and experience by specialists.
Prof Kendall was delightfully."- entertain.
has just graduated. spoke in a manner
worthy of his ancestor, DIR. Elijah Nit
chel. The absence of Commissioner Pat
terson and Entomologist Sherman and
Hon. j. S. Cunningham, was much regret
ted. Prof. Joyner charmed and enthuseG
everybody with his speech on public
schools.
Most of the delegates roomed and
boarded at the College. 1t was great
sight to see 500 teachers and farmers eat
ing dinner in the big dining hall of Pullen
building. The management was perfect,
Mr. B. S. Skinner and Mr.. Billings handled
the large crowd with ease Everybody
was pleased with the fare, with the col
lege, with the convention. with Raleigh.
'sThis convention viii grow larger year
by year until it finally becomes the great
annual Farmers Festival to be enjoyed
at some time by every progressive farmer
in the State. Its success next year is as
sured. The new officers are: Robert W
Scott. of Alamance, president, and Prof
Charles A. Burkett, of Wake county
secretary.
A News and Observer reporter has a
number of prominent farmers and others
who had ATTENDED the Farmers COnVen-
ton during the past three days some ex-
pressions as to what they thought Of it,
and what it was going to accomplish, as
follows:
A. e. COLE, Riggsbee, N c.: have
attended a number of conventions of diff
ferent kinds. l think this is one of the
best
w g. SMITH: 'The farmers meeting
that we have just had at the A. and M.
College is one of the best and most pro
fitable meetings that we have ever had.
There has been more earnest effort on the
mart of the teachers and instructors of the
institute to give a plain and practical IL
lustration of what can and ought to be
done than ever before in any meeting of
the kind and I am sure that IT he's been
full of profit and pleasure to all IN at
tendance"
CLARENCE Fl. POE. Editor OF The
progressive Farmer: A great beginning