The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-13


have much that is encouraging. the work
as yet is in its infancy, and if we ex-
pect to accomplish great results along
these educational lines, we must continue
to be untiring in our labors. This is
made more imperative from the fact that
there is another class of farmers whose
conditions are far different from those
last mentioned ! refer here to that class
of farmers which is yet eingins to the
one crop idea. and who buy all their sup
plies ON credit. It Is a hard proposition
to say how the farmers institute can be
of any service or how could in any
way cooperate with this class of farmers
Such farmers instead of being independ-
ent, are. a rule. dependent. The per-
nicious system of buying things on credit
or on the cut-throat mortgage credit sys-
tenn, which is still praeticed in many Sec
tons of our country. causes the farmer
to lose confidence in himself and in every
one else. It destroys his independence
and causes him to be a poor provder for
his household. Such farmers, as a rule
become very poor citizens in general and
are never of any great benefit to society
or to the country. Many such farmers
seem to be content to exc out a bare and
miserable existence and to stop at that
boundary line. For the farmers institute
TO attempt to cooperate with this class
of farmers along any line of intelligence
or Improvement would be like man try
ing to lift himself over fence by his
boot straps. II there We're any power
under heaven which would enable the
farmers institute workers to round up
this class in some convenient place. where
We could commence such primary teach
ing the teacher starts the child in the
kindergarten with. there would be some
hope. But the question presents itself
How are We best to reach this class of
farmers in our educational work. I shall
not attempt to answer this question. 1t
is n problem as yet unsolved. at least
by me.
Evils of Credit System.
The credit system goes even further.
1t makes a man indolent and shiftless.
The farmer who makes practice of bug
ing all he uses ON credit is usually shrewd
enough to reason that the merchant who
is carrying him has an interest in him
ana is not going to permit him to starVe
at any rate. He reasons that the mer-
chant will have to care for him in order
to get what he owes him. and at the end
of year If he fails to pay out. he rea-
sons that the merchant will again carry
him through the year. The farmer who
buys on credit is. if allowed by the mer-
chant. reckless buyer. and will buy
things which he could get along without
very well. As rule such buyers care.
or seem to care. very little about the
price of an article If it is to be had on
credit it is cheap enough.
1t would be a hard matter to say how
the farmers institute could eo-opera te
with this class of farmers. IT, as be-
fore stated. there was any known way
whereby we could reach them and make
them cash buyers. make them part of
the institute. educate them to the knowl-
edge that In this great country there is
a ready market at their door for every
thing they can produce on the farm that
ii is possible for them to nave some
thing to sell at all seasons of the year.
that this system of diversified farming
will enable them to pay cash for all that
they need and that it is the man with
the cash who always buys cheapest. then
we would succeed in bringing all of our
farmers 70 a high standard OF agricul-
tural education, and would have them
ready To accept any kind of cooperation
which carries with 1t any promise OF re-
lief or profit. But I fear that we are as
yet a long way off from this millennium
in agriculture, and in taking this view
of the situation, ii seems that our only
hope lies along the lines of education.
According to my ideas, the best thing
for the institute to do is to press its edu-
eational work all along the line as fast
as circumstances will permit. Unless we
are to prove of lasting benefit to the
farmers from an educational point Of
view. cur mission as an institute and rs
institute workers and educators will have
been in vain. Generally. the well in
formed man, whether he be farmer or
not. is looking after his own interests, and
Is able TO protect himself.
Dangerous Ground
The heading OF this topic may mean
to some that what is intended here is
to point out some practical way or plan
whereby farmers may purchase their sup
plies in body or as an organization
It this We're true we would be getting up-
on somewhat dangerous ground. az VIC
are not ready for this yet, Owing to the
present disorganized condition Of the far
mers, such a thing is neither practicable
nor advisable. All such efforts have
proven miserable failures in the past. as
far as my observation and experience has
Informed me. The farmer. as well as ev-
cry other good citizen, should be Wiling
10 pay the merchant good price with a
reasonable profit on his goods. and | be-
lieve fully that II we, as institute woi X
ers, can only succeed in educating tho
farmer UP to a strictly cash system along
the lines here indicated. he will have
no trouble in finding merchants who are
willing to sell him goods on a very close
margin end who will treat him fairly
However, where there is a we'll organized
body of farmers who are willing to work
together for the good of ALL and q large
quantity OF goods, Sucn as seeds, imple-
ments, fertilizers, or carriers for convey
ing their produce to market etc, they
might. by buying together in large ouan-
titles, aad paying cash. secure some con-
! siderable reduction in the cost of the
goods as-well as the transportation. Here
comes in a thought. which is that the
| institute in its educational work would
do well to assist the farmer In a knowl-
edge of buying seeds and fertilizers TO
my mind II IS clear that If there arc any
two articles above all others in which
! farmers are most shamefully imposed up
/ on in purchasing, it is seeds and ferl.-
| lizers. Ii is the poorest sort of economy
| for the farmer to buy cheap seed and
| low grade fertilizers.
| Marketing Products.
! As to the second part of the subject.
! that OF marketing farm products If we
car succeed in carrying out the edtca-
! tional part of the work as outlined above
| in the growing Of better crops, the mar
keting of the products will. in most cases.
/ take care of itself. The class of non-pro-
ducers is increasing so much faster tnan
| the producing class that there is fast
growing demand for every first class farm
product that can be produced on our
| farms. There never was a time in the
/ history OF the world when the farmer
F, was paid so well for every intelligent
effort put forth ON the farm as he IS to-
| day. We should however. keep in mind
the term "intelligent effort"
Our population is increasing rapidly.
| both by natural channels and by foreign
| immigration. It will only be few years
at the present rate of increase until we
will have 200000s000 people In this country
! We are fast becoming consumers of what