The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-12-10

son, illustrating the best methods Of
producing standard farm crops be-
fore the farm masses, but TO secure
their active participation in such de-
monstrations, to an extent that will
prove that the average farmer can
do better work and will do it if pro-
perly approached. These demonstra-
tions must show that better and lar
ger crops can be raised Oil the aver
age farm, and at vastly greater net
profit per acre. incidentally they
are designed to prove that there is no
necessity for this widespread deter
ioration Of the farms and the general
poverty Of the masses on the farms.
Like all great reforms, this demon
stratioa work can not be done for
the people to be benefited, but it
must be done by them to be effective.
The sick man must take the proper
medicine to effect cure; it will not
do for his neighbor to take it for
him.
The remedy for the farmers that
is. recommended by the department
embraces the following:
Better tillage of the soil
Rotation Of crops and soil removal
ton by the use of legumes and win
ter cover crops Goats, wheat, etc.).
The judicious use Of commercial
fertilizer.
Greater care in selecting and
plantin" seed.
The use of more horse power and
better machinery.
The raising of more and better
stock.
Keeping an account Of the cost Of
farm operations.
TO this end the farmers coopera-
tive demonstration work has been i'll
augurated. One feature of this
work shaui<1 ;> especially noted. The
farmers in some Of the states have
thought that the work was done un-
der instructions from Washington
and by persons who did not under
stand the soil of the pal ticular state
whose farmers were trying the meth
DDS Of the department. This is not
correct, for, as a matter of fact, the
agents in the various districts have
studied the soil Of the state in which
they are working.
Mr. Jenkins, the agent for the
South Carolina district. is native
of this state and graduated at Glenn
son college, and therefore is well
vcrsed in the soil Of his native
state. He is tnus able to give the
farmers the best possible work bas-
cd on his observations Of the soil
from this state at the capital AID
also from actual experience here
The two crops what will receive the
attention. of the agent in the coun-
ties mentioned will be COTTON and
corn, for these aTs, the real crops of
the state of South Carolina. The
headquarters Of Mr.. Jenkins will be
in Laurens and from this point he
will conduct the experiments.
The Demonstrations.
According to the plans Of the de-
partment there will be about 100
demonstrators il each county where
the experiments are to be conduct ed.
The farmers will be asked to lay
aside one acre or more of their farm
for the purpose Of the demonstration
work. The demonstrators will act
under the sub-agents, who are ap-
pointed by the agent Of the district.
Sub-agcnts have been appointed al
ready in the counties Of Anderson,
Chester and Richland, and in the
counties Of Union, Chester AID Fair
field the work has already been com
menccd.
For the work as indicated above
the agent locates The best farms
that he can get to have on them the
necessary one acre or more allow
ance and Oh these the demonstra-
tions arc carried on. It is generally
considered that the size Of the farm
makes no difference if the owner
can give supervision to the work I'M
der direction Of the demonstrator.
The department also recognizes the
fact that it will be best for the more
staple crops, such as corn and cot
ton. to be made the basis Of thcir