Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-01
FARM LIFE DEBATE
Old Methods Of Agriculture Are Dis
oussed by Country Life
Commission.
MODERN SYSTEMS FAVORED
One Speaker Believes That Farmers
Should be Taught to Depend More
Upon Themselves.

The disposition Of many farmers to
rtticule snewfangleG" ideas In agri-
culture was encountered several times
In the Dallas TEX meeting of Presi-
dent .Roosevelt's country life commits
sion held a 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.
r. 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
eral years to make the Sherman corn
show 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
1t 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
I of enough enthusiasm to make them
Gapply it.
Another speaker suggested book
post that would enable rural districts
to get books for reading and return at
small cost He also favored the par
GELS post. Merchants, he said, opposed
1T. but IL they couldn't afford to shir
stuff by the carload and sell it as
cheaply as the man who would send
1t by the parcels post then the mer
chants should go under.
Would Make Use of High schools.
gTfifaAsneaker favored an agricultural
department in all high schools. with q
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, 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
s4ioaal help and advice in the interest
Of good roads
Professor s. e. Ellis said money
alone could not uplift the farmer ant
his family. For thirteen years." hi
said. Il worked in the asyIums for tn,
insane in this state CTexas). and
know that more farmers wives 60 In
Z sane because of the monotony of farm
life than any other class. Farmer
themselves have access to free fresl
air and sunlight all the time, but the.
are far from being the healthiest elias
Of people. They lack proper sanitation
and health conditions.
''The condition in the rural school i
not satisfactory. What wish to plea,
for is that, while we do need juste
treatment In financial matters, w
have to have system of education
thatSwill btoaden the lives of the pee