The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-11

"'ii'y ana progressive tenants on our Southern
arms until we provide a better type of houses for
these tenants to live in
said that saw no gullies. The farmers in the
west Keep the lands filled with humus keen tho
land growing something all the year round and
SO II does not wash away. We must grow winter
cover crops In the South, and We must also use
more soling crops and more stable manure, there
by getting humus into the land to hold the soil to-
sether Commercial fertilizers furnish no humus
before many years land is going to become too
Vaiuaoe IN the South for anybody to let it wash
away. But the difficulty is that great areas are
already running before that time comes
said that saw forest fires. Our careless
ness with regard to forest fires in the South is al
most disgrace to our people, If man by his
careessness started fire which burned up your
smoke-house or barn, you would raise a great
disturbance. but some worthless vagabond may
start forest fire that will do damage equal to the
value OF a dozen smoke houses or barns and moth
ing is ever done about it. Timber is becoming
scarcer and scarcer every year, and our farmers
must begin to realize that the timber crop is just
as valuable and just surely a oney-making
crop even II it does grow more slowly, as any
other crop. The thing to do is to begin putting
these men who careless with fire behind prison
bars few Of them wearing stripes would teach
very valuable lesson.
said that saw no big plantations. The hope
of the South lies in the breaking up of our big
plantations cultivated by shiftless unintelgent la
Dor and the development of great democracy of
thrifty and intelligent white farmers, owing their
own homes. In saying white farmers, l do not
mean any ll-will toward our colored farmers but
It is best for them and best for every interest in
the South that white population should in
crease by immigration and natural increase until
the proportion Of negroes in no State is large
enough to be oppressive. The chief reason why
many Of our white farmers have gone to town
has been a lack of adequate white society in the
country districts When the farms are smaller
and the farm homes closer together. as they would
be with great body Of so to 1oO-acre farms, the
situation will be materially changed
I said that l stumps in the fields. Hav-
ing just made trip through six Southern States
this fact impressed me especially. A stumpy field
means that the farmer must use the most expen-
sive labor and tools. The saving that would result
from the use Of labor-saving tools and machinery
would pay the whole cost of taking out the
stumps-to say nothing OF the increase in the
crop from the greater area of land made available
by removing these distractions to progress and
productivity.
vi.
I said that / saw no farm homes Imprinted.
With the increasing prosperity OF the South there
Is no reason why should not have the same
beautiful farm homes in Wisconsin and
Illinois. The whole farm looks different when it
is set of by a beautifully painted farm home, and
II seems to me that II must make a difference in
the spirit Of every member of the family. A
pretty home inspires an atmosphere OF pride and
cheerfulness which will not give young and old
certain added dignity but also make everybody on