The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1907-12-04
STATE AGENT OF
THE GOVERNMENT
Agricultural Demonstra-
ton Work to be Done.
AGENT A HERE
Mr.. j. M. jenkins Tells of the Govern.
ment's Plans 10 Conducting Prac.
tical Demonstrations.

OeaNshhS ehiNNh thNo oPSStpi
direction of DR.. Knapp, the famous
agricultural expert, has established his
headquarters at Laurens, which is
about the center Of the Piedmont coun-
ties in which demonstration work is to
be instituted during the coming year.
Later, every county in the State will
be included, for it is the purpose of the
government to have demonstrations
within easy reach of every farmer in
South Carolina.
Mr.. jenkins is quite a young mar for
80 responsible a position, but he is a
graduate in agriculture of Clemson Col
lege, and since 1905 he has been in
charge of the college experiment sta
ton at Clemson, and more recently of
the Coast Land station, near Charles
ton. He was recommended to DR..
Knapp by Director Harper, of the
Clemson College agricultural depart
ment. Mr.. jenkins is a native of Col
Teton county.
In speaking Of the governments
plans, Mr.. Jenkins SAID:
''The idea seems to have gotten out
that the cooperative farms + to be
used for experiments. This is a mis-
take. Experiments are made directly
by the Department of Agriculture and
at the various State institutions. The
cooperative farms will be used to de-
monstrate to the farmers the advant-
ages to be obtained as a result of GER
tain agricultural methods which expert
ments have proved to be superior to
the other methods of farming. The
idea is to give the farmers the benefit
Of the information acquired through
experiment work. 1t can be seen at a
glance that this is the real mission of
the State Agricultural College and the
Federal Department of Agriculture.
cdr. Knapp hopes to secure at least
n hundred progressive, well-to-do
farmers in each county, and more if
possible. To these farmers the govern
ment will supply the best seeds in va
rieties likely to produce the most salts
factory results in the soil used. From
time to time suggestions will be offered
by the governments agents as to the
proper method of tillage, cultivation,
ETC., the quantity of fertilizer to be-
used and the ~adaptability of the soil to
various crops.
'The farmers carrying on the CO.
operative work will be put to no addi-
tional expense, and will not only be
aided by suggestions from agricultural
experts, but will be supplied with the
best of seed. Of course only a portion
of each farm will be devoted to the
work.
''In addition to the cooperative
farms there will be special demonstra-
ton farms near the larger towns in
each county, upon which the govern
ment will grow suitable crops accord
ing to the department. 8 methods. These
farms will always be open to inspec-
ton by farmers in the vicinity.
"These demonstrations will be car
ried on under the supervision of the
county and State agents. Several
county agents will have already been
selected, and others will be announced
in the course of a few weeks. The
State agent is to have charge of the
demonstration and cooperative workEin
Laurens and Greenville counties.
"What DR.. Knapp is preparing to do
in South Carolina is being, or will be
done in other States. / shall be glad
to communicate with any farmer in the
State who desires to cooperate with
the government along the lines sug-
gested. The work is of the utmost i'm
portance to the farmers of the State,
and / hope that they will see the adj
vantages to be gained by joining with
the department. | shall be glad to fur
nish any information desired, and my
address will be Laurens, S. c."
In the following words DR.. Knapp
outlines in a circular his general plan:
"The object of the Farmers CO.
operative Demonstration work is not
only to place a practical object lesson
illustrating the best methods of pro-
ducing standard farm crops before the
farm Masses, but to secure their active
participation in such demonstrations to
an extent that will prove that the aver
ege farmer can do better work, and
will do it if properly approached. These
demonstrations must show hat better
and larger crops can be raised on the
average farm, and at vastly greater
net profit per acre. Incidentally, they
are designed to prove that there is no
necessity for this widespread ~deteriora-
ton of the farms and the general pow
erty of the masses on the farms. Like
all great reforms, this demonstration
work cannot be done for the people to
be benefited, but must be done by
them to be effective. The sick man
must take the proper medicine to effect
a cure; it will not do for his neighbor
to take it for him.
"The remedy for poverty of the
farms is:
l. Better tillage of the soil.
Q. Rotation of crops and soil reno
walton by the use Of legumes and win
ter cover crops Goats, wheat, etc.
8. The judicious use of commercial
fertilizers.
4. Greater care in selecting and
planting seed.
5. The use of more horsepower and