The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-04
rnrPnovnMnrrs rN FARMING.

AmEHoN NM3NI8 IN EAHMkNUs
 The Chicago Tribune has an editorial on what are known as "the corn trains" which have become . popular institu- ton in some of the States of the North west. The object of these trains Is to carry information to farmers as to the latest and most useful discoveries In se- lectlng seed. preparation and cultiva- tion of the land. saving crops, and aIl other matters relating to their oocupa- tion.
 The Advertiser has before referred to the wonderful advance in the yield of the corn crops of Iowa, which ad- vance began and grew under the ad- vice and demonstrations of an educated agricultural scientist. It is in exten- sion and republication of his efforts that these corn trains are run. It is now claimed that by proper effort the yield of corn can be raised to an av- craze of sixty or seventy bushels per acre, and the Western farmers are be- ginning to appreciate the value of sci- entihc methods. On this subject The Tribune says:
 Thirty years ago there was universal apathy among the farmers regarding the development of agriculture The fields were pIowed In the same old way. The harvester and reaper had taken the place of the primitive ''cra- de" and machinery was gradually sup growing understanding of the neces. sity of crop rotation, yet of real sci- enttfic agriculture there was little kowl- edge and little interest was taken in 1t. The farmers institutes were poorly attended. The farmer regarded edu- cation as a stepping stone to success in law, medicine and theology, but of no practical value on the farm. The farmers son who received Q college ed- ucation looked upon return to the farm as an abandonment of all attempt to put his special advantages to prac- teal use. But there has been a change. Science has touched the soil with her magic fingers. The farmers are eager to learn what the classroom has to say about the fields. The farmers Insti- tutes have a larger attendance than the political meetings. The agricul- tural colleges are multiplying, and The special gospel trains which bring the apostles of scientific agriculture are 'thronged with listeners.
 ~ was Vuc OL tue BElCNOub eTEOTS UI the times of our fathers and grand fathers when they thought that farmers didn't need any educa- ton. If there was a bright boy fin the family he was set apart and ed- ucated to become a lawyer, doctor or some other of the learned professions, while the stupid youths were consid- cred good enough for farmers, even without an education. All of us know this to be true. and we know that, un- der that belief and practice. scarcely any improvements was made in our az ricultural methods. The son followed the footsteps Of the father and none of them thought that there could be any advance in farming.
 All that Is changed. or Is changing, and the farmers are learning that ig- norance is serious handicap to success, in their business as in others A me- chanic who would undertake to run large woodworking establishment with the tools and machinery of fifty years ago would find himself left far behind in the effort to compete with his ad- vancad rivals in the business, and it is the same with the farmer. He. also. must realize that the world is not standing still. and that unless he adopts and practices the latest improvements and keeps himself thoroughly up with the latest methods he must lose out in the race. The talk of sixty or seventy bushels per acre as an average corn crop doubtless sounds absurd to the average Alabama farmer, but that is what they are expecting to do in the Northwest and our people should make an effort to keep up with them. When the farmers began to use seeders and cultivators. and reapers and mowers in place of the old and simple tools of other days they were merely keeping step with the march of improvement, and they must learn that there is no such thing as standing still. Science and education ara as good for the tiller of the soil as for any other occupation. In that way lies success. and in no