The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-08
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO FARMERS.

I the establishment OF agricultural high
schools in each county of the state:
"The enclosed leading article from
| the Times-Democrat in reference to
the question of introducing and es.
tablishing high agricultural schools
explains itself and may, kope, in.
terest you and induce you to use AL
your influence with the press of our
state to keep this matter before the
public until our farmers are persued
ed, by explanations and arguments, t.
do the right thing. That is, until
they appreciate the great necessity
of higher agricultural education there
by opening the fountains of knowl
edge with the scientific principles
which alone will help them to intro
! duce into their work, new and up-to.
date methods in all details of farm
work and raise it to the high stand
ard Of other professions, at the head
Of which stands and upon which all
the efforts of the press and of the
advocates of the new system. to en-
tighten the people, not spasmodically,
but regularly and persistently until
the desired result is accomplished.
much has already been done in
Georgia on the lines in question
Louisiana is coming to appreciate the
Importance of higher education for
the farmer. Some of the northwest
ern states have already achieved
wonderful results. Our own legis-
lators have enacted laws to encour
age the establishment of high agri-
cultural schools in every county in
the state and some, l believe, have
already utilized the wise provision
of our government. But the bulk
of our counties are still Indifferent,
and some of them, hostile to any in
novation-what a blunder-what an
injustice to the children Of our coun-
ties. All progress, all Improvement,
all developments for the benefit of
humanity come out of the school and
to shut its doors tn our children-it
is simply a moral crime of the first
degree.
"The emancipation of the farmer
from the present bondage under
which he has groaned for so long will
be effected through a radical change
of the old system of raising crops,
and through agricultural education on
scientific basis in every county of
directed by scientists will prove by
far the greater blessings or the
states that the most optimistic could
dare, or wish, to dream of.
"At the same time, the present sys-
TEN of raising and harvesting our
crops should be relegated to the past
and the new system adopted. 1t |
is not the arbitrary fixing of the |
price of cotton. nor is it the build |
ing of vast warehouses for the article
that will change for the better the |
existing hard conditions of the farm |
or. Only a radical change will eman-
cipate him. 1t is satisfactory to note |
some encouraging signs of a SLOW but |
steady, awakening all over the south.
To think---to reason and strive for |
correct conciusions-to find proper |
remedies for the ills we suffer The
remedy is simple and in the hands |
Of all farmers, large and small alike.
ALI that is needed is to make man
" effort to raise at home all f To- |,
crops needed on the farm; to raise
odf own horses and mules; our home |
made fertilizers; and then all the cot
ON we can without, however, losing
sight of the effects of the memorable
avs of supply and demand.
"Our noble state, blessed with in
resources, gets YEARLY |
nearly 100 million dollars out of the |
,oton crop alone and it's by-products.
such an enormous amount of money
,ught to place every farmer in very
comfortable circumstances; in afflu-
nee in fact But what do actual facts
how? Increase of indebtedness and
with exceptions, of de-
Evidence upon others, or bondage.
md this for the reason that the vast
roceeds of our cotton crop go north,
rest and east for horses and mules:
leat and lard: corn and oats; and 'f
On for hay. All of which could be
aised in the state, better and cheaper
,r our fertilizers: We find it easier
, buy commercial fertilizers from the
lerchant, paying 500 to $25 per ton,
lille early in the season. we sell our
1tton seed at 10c and 12c. No prof. !
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