The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-01-19
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1903.
THE FARMERS SCHOOL.

An event which assuredly marks a
new era in ting progress of Browns
vile and the entire Lower Rio
Grande Valley occurred here Satur-
day This was the Farmers Insti-
tute which was held here on that
day, and which is being repeated all
along the Valley at leading points
this week. When the farmers go to
school to learn better ways of doing
things which they may have been do
ing with Indifferent success for many
years, it is evident that the dawn of
improvement in farm methods has
arrived. Time was when the farm
er would laugh at the idea of col
lege professor telling him how to
plant or cultivate or harvest his
crops. Now, however under the di-
rection of state and national govern
ments, colleges all over the land
that are devoted to the study of farm
AAtIAlOAo, VI plant lliG dA4u lllG dudl
tibility of certain soils to certain
plants, to determine which soils and
conditions are best for certain farm
products; and also to the study of
plant diseases and injurious insects
that infest the great commerce pro-
ducing plants. are teaching how to
improve farm methods and secure
the best results. And, to give the
farmers every opportunity to profit
by the work done by these colleges,
the results of their work are brought
to the farmers by means of the farm
ers' institutes The coming to this
Valley of the eminent authorities
on farm, garden and orchard topics,
who are conducting this series of in
stitutes, should be of great assist
ance to the planters here. many of
whom are from distant states and
perhaps unfamiliar with conditions
pertaining TO their chosen calling in
this region. The plan to organize
and hold these institutes regularly,
for the purpose of making a special
study of plants and methods which
may be best suited to this soil and
climate, and especially to irrigated
farming. shoIld be carried out faith
fully as it is bound TO result in the
greatest gain to our planters This
such viii be done there is every rea-
son to believe. The opening series
of farmers schools just now being
held throughout the Valley will no
doubt be only the first step towards
an era of progress and development
along these lines that will speed the
coming of the day to which The Her
aid has so long looked forward,
when the sun-kissed Rio Grande Val
ley viii be the garden spot Of the
world.
Before leaving this subject. word
should be added as to the duty of the
state in this all important matter
Texas has been somewhat. slower
than some other states in the matter
of spreading this great gospel of i'm
proved farm methods among the
farmers. The little state of Okla
homa. for instance, spends 100000
a year on farmers Institutes. while
the great state of Texas devotes only
$4,000 annually to the same object.
This as Mr.. Kerr pointed out, should
be remedied by the legislature
without loss of time. Texas cannot
afford TO lag behind in the all i'm
portant matter of fostering her great
and ever-increasing agricultural in
.terests. Every planter in the state
should appeal to his representative
in the legislature to work for. an
appropriation of at least 100000
TO support the farmers institutes.