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


luton of this greatest problem is how
to SO reach the rural masses in q way
that they will accept the instruction.
Lectures, books. bulletins and the
press are mighty aids, but they can
not accomplish the object.
Until men are awakened and
aroused books can no more change
long established methods of armins
tnan a mountain can be removed by
a zephyr. Farmers are rightfully un-
beileVers. Everything must be proven.
mere Is a way of reaching farmers,
OF submitting proofs and securing
their acceptance.
"A man NAV refuse to accent or
even believe what he reads. or hears
or even what he sees, but he cannot
doubt the things he does. They carry
absolute conviction. 1t is upon this
principle that the Farmers Co-opera-
tN Demonstration Work bases it's re-
form IN agriculture. 1t offers every
farmer an object lesson, but an object
lesson made by himself upon his own
farm worked out upon definite lines Of
reform. No discussion is admissible.
The farmer is told that if he will test
the demonstration methods. the result
will be a crop, two, three or four fold
to the acre he has been accustomed
to obtain. The plan is exceedingly
simple and readily apprehended by
the duliest man that holds a pillow. He
is advised to try it upon a small area
one acre-and if satisfactory extend
the system over his farm. The man
IS encouraged in many ways to do
his best. Public opinion, the author
lty that rules men outside the do
main of law, is created and the
miracle Of rural transformation is ac-
complished. 1t requires sound philoso-
ply, tact, ~generalship, but it can be
done. Business men and banker Of
fer prizes: newspapers open their col
umns; school teachers organize boys
corn clubs; ladies aid societies and
missionary societies of rural churches
AXE demonstration work to raise
money to pay off church debts; bank
ers refuse to loan money on a crop
unless it is worked upon the demon
stration plan; business men insert in
their leases that the farms shall be
worked upon the demonstration plan
and congressman have adopted it as
q slogan.
professor Smith, Of Holmes county
Mississippi, organized several hundred
boys into corn clubs this year and
they averaged to produce seventy
bushels Of corn per acre where tho
surrounding farms yielded only fiji
teen.
build navies and drill armies
that we may be prepared for defense.
How about getting the and
N>AN AAo $500 1S A~A 49,
pact close at hand and drilling the
farmers to dig from the soil the
wealth to secure the equipment which
an enlightened age offers, an equip
ment that insures them against in
dustrial invasion or conquest. One
fifth the cost of one battleship or the
amount expended annually in main
tanning one regiment of soldiers if de-
voted each year to showing farmers
how to increase and conserve their
gains would add to the wealth of the
people of the United States a billion OF
dollars annually within ten years, and
finally greatly increase that amount.
If it is q wise policy to expend vast
sums in drilling soldiers to insure the
safety of the nation against possible
dangers, is it not a wiser policy to
each the farmers of the country how
to use the p Of industry in
the worlds battle for the most eco
nOmic production of the foods and
the fibers for the cheaper feeding and
clothing of the world
The Southern States are rapidly
wheeling into line to meet the de-
mands of progress or bear their full
part in the approaching battle of the
industries. Instead Of their farms be-
ing a reproach to the nation they will
soon be pointed to with pride and
mentioned with commentator. In
stead Of her planters standing in line
at the door of the banking house crav-
ing the boon of a loan. they will, I'M
der the readjusted conditions, own the
banks and furnish all needed capital
for future progress