The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-11-09

div justification of crops have been
Trains have been furnished
to instructors in agricultural institu-
tons, State officials and in many cases
the railroads have run such trains
themselves. The railroads have aided
in the good roads movement, sending
out trains with machinery for build
good roads and carrying experts to
build sample roads. Some western roads
encouraged irrigation work. To
consideration of our natural
the roads are committed and especially
so with regard to those resources az
fecting agriculture.
The earliest immigration work in
this country was done by the roads
reaching into the then new West.
These roads were land grant roads.
roads which have been given vast
tracts by public lands to aid in their
construction Their work was largely
for the purpose of selling these lands
and settling a country without popula-
ton. Undoubtedly the development
Of the West was in great degree due
to the efforts Of these roads. In the
Southeastern States most Of the roads
had no land grants to sell. They were
the first to take up the work Of at
tracing immigration from other por-
lions of the country and from Europe
to and of individual owners and of
giving the agricultural interests spe.
cial attention. In our territory it Is
our policy to cooperate with the peO-
pie along the line in every work which
will draw attention to agricultural
conditions and possibilities, especially
to aid as we may the work the govern
| ment and the States are doing to edu-
cate the people in diversified farm
ing. The conditions in the South.
where the tenant system of arming
has been the prevailing one and where
agriculture has largely been a one crop
system, with dependence upon other
sections for a large portion Of the
supplies needed, both on the farm and
in the cities, is different from that
found in most portions Of the older
parts Of the country. There is a larger
work to do here in teaching the posi-
bilities Of diversified agriculture and
in the careful attention to the soil.
That this work is now carried on In
the most intelligent way and is ac-
comprising much is evident from the
reports which come from every sec
ton Of the Southeast. The new agri-
culture has made it's appearance here.
it is rapidly spreading, and soon will
have full sway. The annual returns
from Southern farms and plantations,
when that day comes, will be almost
beyond schedule. 1t may interest YOU
to know hat in these cotton and to-
bacco States the corn crop amounted
to 1886, 900, 600, almost as much as that
Of the cotton crop. The South needs
for the continued expansion OF her
agriculture, not only the extension OF
the best farm methods but a largely
increased agricultural population to
utilize the now vacant or idle lands,
which will so readily respond to tn
telligent effort.
THE railroads of the Southeast are
working just as closely as possible
with the people to bring about he
agricultural advance of this section.
They are pursuing every means.
build up the agricultural population.
extend the area of cultivated lands,
secure a Investigation Of crops and
make farm methods and farm condi-
tons better.
Prof. II. E. S~tockbridge. editor OF
Southern Ruralist," published in At
lanta, addressed the on ~
Study in Black and White" being a
discussion not so much Of the ace
problem as of the relation of the ne
| gro to Southern farms. 1t was one OF
the most interesting addresses before
the farmers. He spoke in part as fol
lows:
1.-The average yield of staple crops
is greater in the Northern than in the
Southern States. A single case Will
illustrate the general fact. The aver
age yield Of corn Is SO bushels per acre
in Vermont and 13 bushels in Georgia.
1.-The mex fact bears more directly
on the condition I wish to consider
THE average yield of crps is dimin-
ishing more rapidly in the South
than in the North. A single crop
will Illustrate the correctness of this
assertion.
The all important suestien is, Why?
Difference in climate ard natural fer
tility of our soils cannot explain the
fact. The largest authentic yield OF
corn on record, (255 bushels per
acre. was made in South Carolina.
yet the average yield OF that State
is but 9.5 bushels, against 32.5 for
Massachusetts
The cause for these facts is all i'm
portant. If that can be located hope
for remedy is in sight. Soil and eli
mate being eliminated as causes h
1rn,h1a no Inoafo1 in 1iforenca