Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-12-09
FARM LIFE DEBATE,
Old Methods Discussed Before
Country Life Commission.
MODERN SYSTEMS FAVORED.

One Speaker Believed Farmers Should
Be Taught to Depend More on Them
seIves-PostaI Circulating Library
Suggested = Demonstration Stations
For Beautifying Homes.
The disposition of many farmers to
ridicule 'newfangled" ideas in agri-
culture was encountered several times
in the Dallas (Tex.) meeting of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's country life commits
sion held few days ago. This feel
ing was overcome, however, says the
Kansas City Star, in the evident desire
of the majority to learn everything
possible of modern systems.
I. f. McGalliard of Cara, Denton
county, said he had never attended
school a minute in his life, but he
realized that scientific methods are SUI
perior to the old ways, and because
he realized it he had helped for sew
eraI years to make the Sherman corn
show a success. He believed scientific
farming ought to be so arranged that
farmers could begin with the rudi-
ments of it, as children do with the
branches of knowledge at the common
schools, and learn to apply little
more of it each year. He had little
faith in the ability of any one to teach
it in the lump, as was so often at
tempted. He further believed it would
be a good thing for farmers to be
taught to depend more on themselves.
In his opinion, the farmers needed no
other help than the placing of a
knowledge of scientific farming with
in their reach, along with the infusion
Of enough enthusiasm to make them
apply it.
Another speaker suggested a book
post that would enable rural districts
to get books for reading and return at
small cost. He also favored the par
cells post. Merchants, he said, opposed
it, but if they couldn't afford to ship
stuff by the carload and sell it as
cheaply as the man who would send
it by the parcels post then the mer-
chants should go under.
This speaker favored an agricultural
department in all high schools, with a
laboratory for agricultural chemistry,
so that farmers might improve the
quality of their soil. Henry Wallace,
member Of the commission, said he
believed that with competent superin-
tendents the county farms-"poor
FARMS" some call them-could be made
experiment stations without any cost
whatever.
Walton Peteet, a farmer, said the
government should establish demon
stratiOn homes to show how to beau
tify homes and surroundings and ar
range conveniences, drainage and 9th
er features. He believed, too, in ma
tional help and advice in the interest
Of good roads.
Professor S. E. Ellis said money
alone could not uplift the farmer and
his family For thirteen years. he
said, 81 worked in the asylums for the
insane in this state CTexas), and
know that more farmers wives go in
sane because Of the monotony of farm
life than any other class. Farmers
themselves have access to free fresh
air and sunlight all the time, but they
are far from being the healthiest class
of people. They lack proper sanitation
and health conditions.
''The condition in the rural school is
not satisfactory. What wish to plead
for is that, while we do need a juster
treatment in financial matters, we
have to have a system of education
that will broaden the lives of the peo-
pie in the rural communities. We
should make the rural schools a social
center In the country we want to de-
velop a school suited TO the needs Of
the farmers.
''Next year 5000 teachers will have
to teach agriculture, and there are not
eight of them who know anything
about IT, Then the schools ought to be
kept open twelve hours a day, and all
sorts of clubs and organizations for
the parents should be organized and
meet there. with a lecture course at
night. Have domestic economy, man.
nal training, literary training and a
good library in your schools"
Il. V. MunSon of Denison thought
the federal government should devote
much attention to the fight against tu-
berculosis, from which, he said, S,000,-
600 people now living in the United
States will, according to reliable sta
fcfi dio