Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-25
HOKE Smith GIVES
ADVICE TO FARMERS
Declares They Should Raise
Their Own
Goods
fsneciaI nisnatch to &c Journal.l

CUMMING. Ca. Fen LS--EN-OfoN. Ftohe
Smith delivered n speech here today upon
education. I'm response to an invitation
from the county school commissioner and
other citizens. His speech was directed
toward bringing 70 the attention OF ms
hearers the great resources OF the state
and the necessity for their development
He insisted that OF first Importance
was the preparation OF our young people
20 take advantage of the opportunities
they have in Georgia lie urged that the
soil Of Georgia gave an opportunity TOT
diversified agriculture superior TO nearly
every other section OF the union, and that
the boys and girls ought to he trained
along the lines OF thorough knowledge
of what could be done and how to do
a..
RAISE OWN FOOD STUFFS.
He especially urged the necessity for
raising I'm Georgia everything that the
people needed I'm the state to eat. He
said that Georgia could not only produce
sn OF the food stuffs OF every kind that
her own people would need. but could
support a population OF 1900. coo of people
without buying an ounce of food from
any other section. and could. besides, fur
nish fruits and truckage for the great
cities of the east.
His speech was enthusiastically receiv-
ed. Among other things he said:
-lnETe can De no EEEdAcE ArlnHDl az SCI
ice than to help prepare the young for
the possibilities OF life.
II all were fully equipped, despite I'M
3ust laws and trust and high tariff bur-
dens. there would be none I'm actual want
and few without reasonable luxuries-
The time has passed when the success
fui teacher looks upon mere knowledge
acquired from books as the chief purpose
Of education.
The child should be trained mentally.
morally and spiritually. character ana
force should be developed in the child
q Every child as a part OF his school worK
should receive practical training to fit the
child for the battles Of life. for its pleas
uFes and its responsibilities
In the cities technical training to make
our boys and girls skilled artists in those
lines OF Occupation which pertain 10 city
life should be a part Of the school work.
In our rural schools nature study. the
study OF the soil. the study Of the plants.
their diseases and their foods. should be
a part of the child's work.
I cannot too earnestly express my con-
vfctions as to the necessity in Georgia
for MORE STUDY OF THE AGRICUL-
TURAL POSSIBILITIES OF THE
STATE.
II Is hard to estimate the amount OF
food stuffs that can be raised in Georgia
with proper knowledge and proper en-
ergy- -
SHOULD STUDY QUESTION.
Cotton is a great crop How to make an
acre produce more cotton and higher
grade cotton is an important study. But
81 is absolutely essential that our boys
and girls and our young men and old
men SHOULD STUDY THE QUESTION
OF HOW TO MAKE OUR SOIL PRO-
DUCE THE LARGEST RETURNS OF
ALI. THE FOOD STUFFS NECESSARY
FOR THE SUPPORT OF LIFE.
GeorSians ought not to buy a pound of
meat or a bushel OF corn or anything else
necessary for Georgians TO eat that Is
not raised on Georgia soil.
Our rural schools should encourage
bovs' and girls clubs for study and
scompetitiou along those lines of industry
which pertain to the farm and which
VIII be a part OF the children's future
life.
We have our district agricultural
schools. We have our Es=sa EGaes q
agriculture. Extensasa ple 20 ese=
institutions among tn - - &2 In
the rural schools saG se<stS css people
at home on their farms ought ss be sup
ported by liberal appropriations from the
state treasury.
WISH TO SEE VERY FEVER OF
ENTHUSIASTIC DESIRE FOR MORE
KNOWLEDGE IN GEORGIA UPON
EVERY QUESTION WHICH WILL
MAKE FARM PRODUCTIONS MORE
PROFITABLE AND RURAL LIFE
FRFER FROM ISOLATION.
MY ADVICE TO A YOUNG MAN
WHO MUST MAKE HIS OWN WAY
Is TO BUY A PIECE OF GEORGIA
Fam LAND on CREDIT IF HE HAS
NO MONEY. LEARN HOW TO WORK
1T AND GO TO WORK ON IT. HE
CAN MAKE HIMSELF INDEPEN-
DENT.
I am gratified TO tell you that last
year the trustees OF the Peabody fund
appropriated money to employ during
this year in Georgia a capable educator
who is 20 give his time to studying our
rural schools and to help labor for their
Improvement
We left the selection OF this educator
to the general agent of the Peabody
fund and TO our able state superinten-
dent Of education, Professor Pound. They
have selected a splendid man and he
will soon begin work for your rural
schools.
PEABODY FUND
I hope this fall to put not less than
$4,000 from the Peabody fund at his
command, with which he can employ a
number OF highly skilled teachers, distrib-
uting them in different parts OF the
state, with the duty Of serving the rural
schools by visiting school after school
under the direction OF the county school
commissioner and cooperating with the
local teacher to bring the work in the
rural school up 70 the highest degree OF
proficiency. and to help INTRODUCE IN
EVERY SCHOOL THE STUDY OF AG-
RICULTURE.
This Peabody fund was given to south
ern education in 1858 by George Peabody,
who lived at the time in London, En-
gland The income from the money be-
longs to southern education. and I want
TO see the part of IL which comes TO
Georgia put where it will do the most
good.
OUR RURAL SCHOOLS MUST BE
IMPROVED. They must be born again.
We need a state board OF education, COM