The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-30
ADVICE FOR FARMERS.
pr. KNAPP, GOVERNMENT Ey.
PERT, TELLS THEM HOW no
SUCCEED.
bureau OF Plant Industry Official
Submits Report on the Present
status and Possible Improvement
OF Farm Life I'm the South, and In
dicates Lines Along which Ad-
vancement Should Proceed.

-.
A. Knapp, Of the bureau of plant in
dustry in the department Of agricul-
ture, has just made an interesting re-
port to Secretary Wilson on the SUBJ
ject Of farmers cooperative demon
stration work in its relation to rural
Improvement. The report deals with
many present-day problems Of vital
importance to the agriculturalists
throughout the country. and is both
interesting and valuable. It deals
largely with the condition OF the
Southern farmer Of the present time,
draws picture of his former days
and outlines what may be expected OF
him in the future
"The aim Of the farmers coopera-
tive demonstration work." says DR..
Knapp. "is to place a practical object
lesson before the farm masses, illus
trating the best and most profitable
methods Of producing the standard
farm crops, and to secure such active
participation In the demonstrations as
70 prove that the average farmer can
produce better results.
Every substantial advance in the
progress Of human society costs
money and must be maintained by an
increased earning capacity of the
masses. Food and clothing are the
first requirements. If the earning ca
pacity OF people is only sufficient to
supply these, progress is blocked. and
IL Is useless to insist upon better
houses, more home comforts. schools,
or any upward step. The problem is.
are the rural masses unwilling to pro-
vide the betterments which a pro.
sressive civilization in the country de-
mands-comfortable houses with i'm
proved home and farm eouipment
good schools and more months of
schooling. better highways, rural free
delivery. telephones, etc.--or do thew
lack the means?
upon the answer depends the
proper remedy for existing conditions
II unable. steps should be taken 70
increase the earning capacity of the
rural toilers; IL able. but unwilling,
the rural pride should be. aroused and
the force Of public opinion, and even
law brought to bear. Nearly every
man. even among the poorest. will
ciothc his family better. improve his
nome and add conveniences IL he
earns more.
Z I'm the Southern States, in every
township and in nearly every neigh
borhood. there are few who are able
to support a better civilization than
the one In which they live. Finding
that 1t is difficult to obtain what they
require, they move to a town or CITY.
such removals to secure better social.
religious, or educational ADVANTAGES
are matters of common occurrence.
But, after all, this class forms the mi
nority and 1t is the condition of the
great majority which must be con.
sidered.
Upon farm one man in the Uni
ted States with good team and mod
ern machinery can do the work that
80 to 100 men do in many Oriental
countries. Consequently, when the lat
ter are paid s to 10 cents day they
are paid up to their earning capacity,
capacity that Is insufficient to sus-
tain high civilization.
LAS preliminary step then, In
this inquiry. let US determine the pres
ent status Of the rural type with re-
spect to the following items; (1) The
earning capacity Of the average farm
worker In the South. (2) The aver
age number Of acres In each State
worked by one man. (s) The char
acter and value Of farm buildings.
90 The value Of implements anc
tools on the average farm in each
State. 60 The number Of horses or
mules used for each farm laborer.
(O The average number Of milch
cows on each farm. CD The average
value OF poultry on each farm. (S)
The percentage Of farms in each State
worked by tenants.
"For the improvement Of farm life
many things are needed. (1) The
Improvement Of country schools, or
rather. the establishing Of real schools
for the country. Many leading edu-
Gators believe that the country school
has yet to be conceived and estab-