The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-09-02

ly for the purpose of spreading the
gospel, not of Thomas jefferson, but
of James Wilson, secretary of agri-
culture.
Work Costs 100000.
The method taken to teach the
south how to farm is properly de-
scribed as demonstration work. For
this fiscal year the government has
appropriated 100000 for this pur-
pose. To this sum can be AIDED $73,-
800, given for the year by the New
York General Education Board, the
board that administers the fund
given by John d. Rockefeller for ed
vocational and other worthy purposes
Besides states, counties and local.
ties contribute in one way and an
other. Merchants often give large
contributions in seed.
Altogether several hundred thou
sand dollars is expended annually in
this cause of a better understanding
of how to farm in the south. To
carry out the work DR.. Knapp has
mo less than 1852 agents in the field
in the southern states. They are not
teaching the attractions of the sci
ence of agriculture. They are caus-
ing demonstration farms to be con-
Quoted in each locality for the pur-
pose of letting the farmers see what
good farming will do. Up to last Feb
ruary 10000 demonstration farms
had been established, and 10000
farmers had agreed to cooperate
and make reports as to results.
BY actual count it is determined
that from 80 to 100 farmers an
nually visit each demonstration farm.
If the average was as low as 80 the
total would be 100000.
In order to get a demonstration
farm started the county agent will
call a meeting in some locality and
select some man who is known to be
a good farmer to put in a crop of
cotton or corn with seed furnished
by the government. This crop will
be raised under the eye of the gov
eminent agent who will visit it at
frequent intervals, and in accordance
with directions given by the depart
ment of agriculture.
These directions are brief DR..
Knapp has issued what he terms
THE Ten Commandments of Agri-
culture" ten simple rules that if
followed will enable any man to farm
successfully. AS the crop grows
the demonstration farm meetings of
farmers will be arranged to see it
from time to time and the county
agent will give lectures. Other farm
ers will frequently cooperate by try
ing the same method of raising a
.
ment's instructions, without the pres
.ence of an agent.
Work Put on Scientific Raeis.
The result of this system has been
visibly to demonstrate to whole com
munities of farmers in the south
what proper methods of farming can
do. If by blowing his ground deep
instead of shallow, by getting the
best of seed, by proper attention to
conservation of moisture, fertiliza-
ton and rotation of crops Bill Jones
can raise bale or a bale and a half
Of cotton where he raised but a
fraction of a bale before his neigh
bOrs are likely to get Interested
Bill Smith is apt to set out to do
likewise. A healthy rivalry is
aroused.
Early varieties of cotton are in
sisted on by the government in or
der to get ahead of the boil weevil.
The result is that the cotton is
| picked by the middle or end of Oc-
tober, and the children are enabled
to leave the cotton fields and go to
| school in the winter months. Not
| only are the men interested, but
| county superintendent are encour-
aged to form clubs among the school
! boys and the government furnishes
! the seeds for these clubs A sys-
TEN of prizes is arranged and the
! boy raising the largest crop of corn
or cotton is given a prize. All this
means a new dispensation for the
| south.
q