The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-06-14
THE EAST TENNESSEE FARMERS CONVENTION.

Secretary Soule Sends q Report of the Great Annual
Meeting In Knoxville Last Weeek-Outline of the
Adtresses-A Highly Successful Session.
Editors Progressive Farmer:
The twenty-ninth annual gathering of East
Tennessee farmers was held in the auditorium of
Science Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxille,
June 1, 2 and 3. The attendance as heretofore
was a representative one, a good many delegates
coming, not only from Middle and West Tennes-
see, but from neighboring States as well. The hall
was crowded throughout the different sessions and
the enthusiasm manifested was good to see, for
it spoke volumes for the aggressive spirit that
now prevades the farmers of the Middle South.
1t is also an evidence of the fact that they ap-
preciate the educational value of meetings of this
kind. The speakers at the different sessions were
given the close attention which the many excel
lent papers presented deserved. 1t has always
been the policy of the convention to try and pro-
vide a varied program and to secure the services
of a number of recognized specialists to discuss
certain topics so that the latest and best informa-
ton relative to the various branches of agricul-
ture may be presented before the convention.
1t is impossible in this brief review to more
than mention some of the leading speakers,
though it is proper to say that the discussions
following the different papers were spirited and
were q ! great SGTV1C0 II 6IuCludLIuB Luduy Julius
of great value to the average farmer which
were not fully set forth in the different papers.
1t has been the writer's privilege to attend con-
v~entions in many sections of the country, but he
has rarely if ever seen a more representative
body of men gathered together in an agricultu-
raj meeting, nor a set of men who discussed ag-
ricultural4 subjects with a greater degree of intel
igs6ce. In other words, the present convention
rae ro4 q S1ao1arc' convention w.
The programme was carried out practically as
published, though Governor Frazier could not be
present on account of his official duties, which
was a great disappointment. Fortunately, the
services of DR.. FL. j. Weber, in charge of the
Plant Breeding Laboratory at Washington, were
secured and he gave a very able and entertaining
lecture on the results of his Investigations. In
this lecture he showed clearly the great impor-
lance of selecting plants for many purposes and
he demonstrated not only the feasibility of this
work on the average farm, but the great financial
gain that would result to the farmer.
Prof. II. A. Carleton, Cerealist of the United
States Department of Agriculture, spoke on the
growth of Cereals in the Appalachian region.
He referred to the excellent work that had been
done at the Tennessee Experiment Station with
wheat, barley, oats and rye, and stated that in his
opinion these crops could be grown quite general
" throughout this region. The points emphasized
were better soil culture and the selection and i'm
provement of the various varieties in common use.
1t is proper to state that the Tennessee Expert
ment Station hopes to distribute a small amount
of the different varieties of improved seed at an
early date.
MI. r. h. Kittrell, State Live Stock Commits
sioner, delivered an address on Tennessee's In