The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-06-01

no less hue of other great tracts
Of country east q" the Mississippi
In these rcgiosn the church and
the school flourish as never before
there is n more successful and
more varied farming industry; the
social advantages and opportum-
ties are greoter than ever before
life is fuller happier. more useful ;
and though the work is more cffec-
tive than ever, and in way quite
us hard, it is carried on 50 as to
give more scope for well-uscd leis-
ure. My plea is that we shall all
try 10 make more nearly universal
the conditions that now obtain in
the most-iavored localities.
Nothing in the way of scientific
work can ever take the place of
business management on u farm.
We ought all of lis to teach our
selves as much as possible; but We
can also all Of us learn from
others: and the farmer can hest
learn how TO manage his farm even
better than he now does by prac-
tice under intelligent supervision,
on his own soil in such way as TO
increase his income. This is the
kind of teaching which has been
carried ON in Texas, Louisiana.
and Arkansas by Doctor Knapp, of
the national Department Of Agri-
culture science. This has been de-
veloped with remarkable rapldity
during the last quarter of a CEN
tuy. and the benefit to agriculture
has been great. As was inevitable,
there was much error and much re-
petition of work I'm the early ap-
pl.cation of money to the needs Of
agricultural colleges and expert
ment stations alike by the nation
and the several States. Much has
been accomplished; but much more
can be accomplished in the future.
The prime need must always be for
real research, resulting i'm scientific
conclusions of proved somdness.
Both the farmer and the legislature
must beware of invariably demand
ing immediate returns from invest
mentS in research Efforts. 1t is pro-
badly one Of our faults as a nation
that we are too impatient to wait
la sufficient length Of time 10 ac-
'complish the best results; and in
agriculture effective research often,
although not always, involves slow
and long-continued effort if the re-
suits are to be tmthwOrthy. While
applied science in agriculture as
elsewhere must be judged largely
from the standpoint of its actual
return i'm dollars, yet the farmers.
no more than anyone else cah af-
Ford to ignore the large results that
can be enjoyed because of broader
knowledge. The farmer must pre-
pare for using the knowledge that
can be obtained through agricutur-
al colleges by insisting upon n con-
Stantly more practical curriculum
in the schools IN which his children
are taught. He must noe lose his
independence, his nnitiative. his
rugged self-sufficiency; ard vet
he must learn to work in the hear
TEST cooperation with his fellows.
1.-THE corner stone, of our uneX-
ampled prosperity are, ON the one
hand. the production of raw ma
tclial, and its manufacture and
distribution on the other. These
two great groups of subjects are
represented in the National Gov
crnment principally by the Dcpart.
ments Of Agriculture and of Com
lmerce and Labor. The production
Of raw material from the surface
OF the earth is the sphere in which
the Department Of Agriculture has
hitherto achieved such notable re-
SnltS. OF all the Executive Depart
ments there is no other not even
the Post-Oflice, which comes into
more direct and bcnclicient contact
with the daily life of the people
Than the DEPARTMENT of Agriculture
and none whose yield Of practical
benefits is greater in proportion
to the public money expended.
"But great as lis services has
been in the past, the Department
of Agriculture has still larger
field Of usefulness ahead. II has
been dealing with growing crops /.
1t must hereafter deal also with
living men, Hitherto agricultural
research, instruction. and agitation
have been directed almost exclusive.
ly toward the production of wealth
from the snl. 1t is time TO adopt
IN addition a new point Of view
Hereafter another great task before
1.-THE National Department of Aeri.
culture and the similar agencies OF
the various Safes must be TO foste,
agriculture for its social results. o,
IN other words, to assist in bring,
ing about the best kind of l.fC
ON the farm for the sake of pro
ducing the best kind of men. Tn,
Government must recognize the Far
reaching importance of the stnd,