Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-05-12
ADVICE FOR OUR FARMERS.
DIR. Knapp, Government Expert, Tells
Them How to Succeed.
A Washington dispatch says:

a washington dlSpatcn says:
DR.. .. A. Knapp, of the bureau of
plant industry In the department of
agriculture, has just made an inter
esting report to Secretary Wilson on
the subject of farmers cooperative
demonstration work in it's relation
TO rural Improvement. The report
deals with many present-day prob
lens OF vital Importance to the ag-
ricmltm-!StG throughout the country,
and is both interesting and valua-
Bile. 1t deals largely with the condi-
ton of the Southern farmer Of the
present time, draws a picture Of his
former days and outlines what may
be expected Of him in the future.
"The aim of the farmers co-ope-
rative demonstration work" says
DR.. Knapp, lis to place practical
object lesson before the farm masses,
illustrating the best and most prof
table methods of producing the
standard farm crops, and to secure
such active participation in the dem
onstrations as to prove that the av-
eragc farmer can produce better re-
suits.
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 earn
Ing capacity Of the people is only
sufficient to supply these, progress is
blocked, and it is useless to insist
upon better houses, more home
comforts, schools or any upward
step. The problem is, are the rural
terments which a progressive civili-
Zation in the country demands
comfortable houses with improved
home and farm equipment, good
schools and more months of school
ing, better highways, rural free de-
livery, telephones, etc.--or do they
lack the means?
"Upon the answer depends the
tions. If unable, steps should be
taken to increase the earning car;c-
ity Of the rural toilers; If able, but
unwilling, the rural pride should be
aroused and the force of public opin-
ion, and even law, brought TO bear.
Near every man, even among the
pc crest, will clothe his family bet
ter, improve his home and add con-
veniences if he earns more.
I'm the Southern States, in every
township and in nearly every neigh
borhood, there are a few who are
able to support better civilization
than the one in which they live.
Finding that it Is difficult to obtain
what they require, they move to a
! town or city. Such removals to Sc
cure better social, religious, or edu-
cational advantages are matters of
! common occurrence. But, after all,
this class forms the minority, and it
is the condition of the great major
ity which must be considered.
upon a farm one man in The Uni
ted States with a good team and
modern machinery can do the work
that so to 100 men do in many Ori-
entail countries. Consequently, when
the latter are paid 5 to 10 cents a
day they are paid up to their earn
ing capacity, a capacity that is in
sufficient to sustain high civiliza-
ton.
'As preliminary step, then, in
this inquiry, let us determine the
present status Of the rural type with
respect to the following items: CD
The earning capacity Of the average
farm worker in the South. (2) The
average number of acres in each