The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-16
WORDS OF WISDOM BY FARMERS

WORDS OF WISDOM BY FARMERS.
The sessions of the Farmers Institutes,
conducted by officials of the Agricultural
Department and the A. and NJ College,
are most successful in those counties in
which the farmers take the most interest
ance is small and those farmers present
go simply as hearers, whereas the best
sort of an institute is where the local
farmers join the lecturers in giving in
their experience and in exchanging views.
Such seems to have been the course pur
sued when the Farmers Institute was
the wisest and most successful farmers in
that county-General w. r. Cox and ex-
Senator DR.. R. H. Speight-spoke on
topics of the highest interest to farmers.
From the Tarboro Southerner's account
of their sensible addresses We quote:
1.-The speech of General w. r. Cox on
labor was quite interesting AS no par
ticular phase of the subject had been as
signed him he took his text from the re-
port of the State Commissioner of Labor,
reading the opinions therein expressed of
landowners, manufacturers, editors and
other employers of labor. These showed
different views, from which the speaker
said his hearers could draw their own
conclusions. His running comments, as
he read these reports, were pertinent and
much appreciated. For instance, where
one said that labor was trifling and in
dolent, he said he was informed by Mr..
Lilies that Edgecombe had made about
$4,000 bales of cotton, which showed that
some one had been at work. 1t might
have been this disinclination to work that
kept the cotton crop down and put prices
up.
Throughout his speech it was evident
that he was an optimist. He read several
extracts which said that if the negro
could be made to take an interest in his
employers work he would be more
valuable. This was very true, he said,
and the employer should take the initia-
tive in bringing this about. He advised
against complaining and finding fault.
IF a defect was found seek to remedy it.
Instead of erumbling over what one had
to eat, let us endeavor to appreciate the
trouble it caused the good wife to prepare
i.
HE looked for immigration to the
South. but not for the farm. White labor
was not coming here for that purpose,
nor would it be content to be worked as
we work the negro.
He counselled prudence and conserva-
tism on the part of the farmers, urged
them to remember 1867, when farmers
were frantic to hire labor and to buy
mules. In some respects this year is SIM
liar to that disastrous one which produced
general bankruptcy throughout the South.
There were three kinds of labor, the
ignorant, which is the most expensive:
the intelligent, which is desirable, and
the intelligent and ambitious, which is
the best paid and the most valuable of
all
I'm the afternoon DR.. Speight address
ed the institute on the topic Should
Farmers Manufacture Raw Products
He said the golden age of this county
was from 1910 to 1850, when a great many
products OF the farm were manufactured
by the farmers. Cotton was spun into
goods, hides were made into shoes; and
there was more general prosperity among
farmers because they were not only pro-
ducers, but manufacturers.
Cotton seed possess certain qualities
that make them very valuable when man
ufactured into finished products He said
that there ought to be a cotton oil mill
for every thousand bales of cotton pro-
duced.
''The peanut crop, he said, is also a
very valuable crop, and the peanuts
should be put in the best shape tor mar
ket so as to obtain the highest prices.
His idea is that the labor on the farm
in the winter months can put the peanuts
in better shape for shipment, that is the
labor unemployed, and as a consequence
the farmer can get higher prices in ship
ping peanuts, as their grade Is improved.
"If we can enhance the value OF cotton
so as to make one pound bring as much
as two pounds ordinarily, then the TAR
mers should cooperate for the purpose OF
spinning the raw cotton.
"a great deal of study. energy and
intelligence would be required to put in
to effect the idea of the general manu-
facture of farm products, provided We
can get the intelligent labor.
''Tke oil mills of the county have
brought great wealth to the county, about
$90,0o0,000 annually in the manufacture OF
seed into finished products. The estab
isbment of cotton factories, likewise,
has been great factor in adding to tbs
general wealth of the county. He thought
factories should be located where the cot
ton is grown.
"If every community had a spinning
factory the cotton crop OF the county
would be worth two million dollars IN
stead of one million dollars as raw.
HE advocated the building OF factorie:
for manufacturing the principal farm pro
ducts.