The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-08-21
FARMERS HEAR
EXPERTS TALK
SMALL BUT INTELLIGENT AUDI
ENcE LISTENS TO DISCUS
SION or FARMING.

Although it has been extensively
advertised that two of the best known
and most competent experts connect
ed with the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture would address
the farmers of this county Tuesday
upon subjects Of vital interest to them
there were few who came to hear. II
IS unfortunate for the country that so
few farmers manifest an interest In
the scientific methods of cultivation.
The information which the govern
ment gives them without cost has
been secured by long and painstakins
research and investigation at a large
expense and experience has proven
the value of scientific farming. How
ever, the general public has not yet
come to properly appreciate these
meetings and the majority of those
who do attend them are those who
stand less in need of the information
obtained than those who remain
away.
There were less than half hum
dred farmers in the Circuit Court
room when President ]. N. Meroney
of the Maury County Farmers Soci-
ETY.. called the meeting to order and
introduced the speakers. But what
the audience lacked in numbers was
partly made up in quality. 1t was an
intelligent and appreciatiye class OF
farmers and stock raisers who listen
ed to the interesting talks OF the ex-
perts. BY the number and character
OF questions that they asked an In
telligent interest was shown. Although
those in attendance were farmers
above the average in knowledge OF
technical or scientific farming they
had come to learn and were deter
mined to utilize to the full the oppor-
tunity given them to acquire addi-
tional information.
The speakers today were w. J..
Spillman and Prof. Guy L. Stewart.
Neither of them make any effort at or
atorical fights but both are entertain
fhg speakers thoroughly familiar both
by research and practical demonstra-
tions, with the subject upon which
they speak They were ready at all
times to answer any questions asked
and in fact invited their hearers to
ask questions in order that any point
upon which they had not been clear
might be further elucidated
Prof. Stewart was the first speaker,
combining his remarks largely to a dis
cussion of the melon and fruit indus
tries. He gave the farmers much In
formation of value on these subjects,
treating of the various diseases to
which the plants and fruit are liable
at considerable length. He gave the
experience of growers of melons and
frunts in other localities showing the
great profits to be obtained from
these crops if intelligent and scientif-
ic methods are employed in the culti-
walton.
} Prof. Spillman's remarks were more
general and embraced a variety OF
subjects, but he gave the major part
of his time to discussion of forage
crops and the raising of hogs and cat
tie. He spoke of the great value OF
forage crops not only as a land pre-
server but as an article of food for
hogs and cattle. He also gave some
attention to Johnson grass, saying
that he understood that there was
some in this county that had been
giving the farmers trouble. He
showed how it could be entirely eradl-
Gated by cultivation.
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