The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-10
AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION
 CLOSES AFTER A BUSY DAY
The topic was discussed by the mem bers by the question system.
 Paper by MT. Hamilton.

The topic was discussed by the mem- bers by the question system.
 Paper by MT. Hamilton.
 Farmers Institutes as Branch of Agricultural Education" was the sub- ject of a paper by John Hamilton of the United States Department of Agricui- ture.
 One hundred years ago. the speaker pointed out, agriculture was a mechan- ical calling. Agricultural education taught merely mechanical skill in hand ling a blow and a hoe and not a scien- tihc analysis of the different branches of the industry. The reason for this Is apparent. The lands were then more fer tile and the crops grew without the care- full culture, which now has to be direct ed toward them. Again. greater va- riety of crops Is demanded, insect ene- mics have appeared in myriads. the clearing of timber lands has caused floods of great devastation. and labor has grown more scare and more expensive and building material has tripled in value.
 All of these cases demand that the farmer know best how to treat the plants, how to economize on the labor, how to better the soil. Three great educational methods have been employed, first. the
  distribution of printed pamphlets, and | third. the farmers institute.
 The first, he said, while valuable reached only favored few, the second could not give the lessons to the farmers that they should learn. the third, how ever. brings them in contact with the educated agricultural men of the colleges, who can tell them facts about plant cult ure and animal raising. which would have rAd hA fax Af. la- to learn by their own experiments, but which have been handed down to tho educated men as a result of years of | study.
 Professor E. w. Magruder spoke inter- estingly on the Improvement in the Quality and Quantity of Corn by Seed selection" Professor Magruder told of the advantages of producing a good corn from good seed at even a larger origi- nal cost and cited technical statistics to substantiate his position. The subject was discussed by questions to which Pro- lessor Magruder gave answers.
 Mr. Richards Introduced.
 M. V. Richards was then introduced by President Lee. He was received with en- thusiasm.
 MT. Richards discussed at considerab,e length the development of the South on manufacturing and industrial lines He showed the marvellous development which Is taking place in the Southern States. and effectively brought to the attention or the convention the fact that from an agricultural viewpoint the South, as far as the value of land is concerned, has advanced more during tho past ten years onan any other section of the United States. He forcibly presented practical arguments In support of the State Boards or Agriculture and the Experiment Sta tons. pointing out the great advantages or the work being done by these institu- uons in the advancement of the agri cultural resources of the country.
 ne maue an urgent plea that special enorts be made looking to the organiza- tion or farmers institutes in every coun- " throughout the South. arguing that tho farmers institute Is the farmers sohroI and that as interest increases in inc farmers' institute so will agriculture i,, phe south develop. He said that farro- CTS institutes mean better farmers rora ana better schools. better public bigb- ways. and argued that they would do much to attract capital and people to the South. N''e 'o 'ne
 Value cf Railroads.
 numan interest centero in whatever ,s us5ui, oeciared Mir. Richards The word utility, therefore. is the Alnh. tn ward which all serious endeavor noints | the goal of all earnest workers. SunerIa. l tVe among all industrial factors In con. | serving the public utility is the raiIro.d think this is indisputable. Desolate indeed is the section throupb wnich no railroad passes; but when tbe Ialroad does come, carrying with 1t the , arterial blood which trade and inter- communication alone can generate tha, | at once a new necessity arises-necessitv l Tor local action, economic productior progressive industry. The farmers of tha section are reused to the need of inc | nour. He hears of good markets no long | CT remote from him, no longer inaccessi- ole 10 him' but now brought close to his tarm ana already asking for its product But he also finds that his methods are not modern. his knowledge is meagre, his | experience limited. He has been isola ted from his fellows and they from him. and each has only learned farming or stock raising or fruit grating, in his own linn ited way. by himself. Then comes a sug- gestion: why not get together and ex- | change these individual experiences con- | tribute these morsels of knowledge com | pare these various methods?
 The result of few such meetings dem- onstrates, first that every one knows what one alone knew; each one knows what all the rest knew; and this means | that the intelligence. the experience and
 
 | and in the future, has been multiplied an hundred times. This is the beginning of systematic permanent organization for | future betterment.
 The Farmers Institute. T have a very warm place in my heart for the Farmers Institute-the name, and | its suggestions or meaning, are dseply interesting to me. l am in earnest sym pathy with its purposes. its endeavors, | its hopes. and its desires. The farmyard | recalls to me tender memories; the old farm house Is imaged in my heart, and | its hearthstones is a talismanic word that renews my boyhood, when hear 1t utter | ed. So, in sympathy as I am with the farmer and his lifework I can not but realize, I can not fa.l to consider, how useless would be his sacrifices, his toll. his hopes of material progress and pros perity If he received no outside help, If he found no powerful factor abroad tn get in touch with. At once he looks t, the railroad. That Is the factor he need; and-it needs him. The natural the in- evitable follows. Cooperation is essen. tial. Natural advantages soon appear. The railroad brings customers to the farm. and carries back the farm products to market. The ra. .lroad makes traffio possible between the farmer in the black belt of the South and the manufacturer of the far North for an interchange of busi ness. an exchange or barter of wares | The railroad draws remote communities together. and social intercourse is thus both possible and convenient. School, and churches Spring up and thrive. and