The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-12-01
Farm Demonstration Work In the
South.
Norfolk Yirginian-PiIot.


structive figures which the Depart
ment of Agriculture at Washington
has lust issued touching corn-grow-
ing in the South 1t is gratifying to
observe that in average yield per
acre Virginia stands first, though
many of her Southern sisters exceed
her in aggregate outturn. Notice
able too is the fact that Louisiana,
which it was long claimed could not
grow this cereal with profit, now
holds second place in average yield
per acre. Taken all in all, the figures
are both gratifying and encouraging
as showing that crop diyersification,
in which lies the sections maximum
agricultural prosperity, is steadily
and rapidly gaining ground in prac-
tically all the Southern States.
Following is the article in question:
In the Virginian-Pilot ofNovember
18th in a reprint of an article taken
from the New Idea Woman's Maya
| zine.
To speak plainly, this article casts
an unnecessary reflection upon the
South and cannot be too severely
criticised by those who are interested
| in the welfare and advancement of
| the Southern States.
The particular paragraph that is
Objectionable reads:
'In the South today there are co.
900 demonstration farms, backed by
the Government, to show the poor
whites how to farm"
The article then goes On to explain
| how one particular man in locality
is selected to become a demonstration
because of his suspected possibili-
ties" This man is schooled in how
to feed hogs, grow garden stuff, raise
| chickens and cultivate crops under
| Government direction. His neigh
bors are supposed to see and follow
his example. His fence is made to
bear a placard announcing that his
| place is a Government demonstration
farm. He is made the recipient of in
struction bulletins by mail, and as
she has been selected from among
his neighbors, feels proud ofhimself. :"
While the above facts are in a
measure true, yet in the actual
wording it is an unnecessary fling at
the South, and the term 'poOr whites"
as used places an odium upon the
people who are participants in the
| demonstration work. By the publica-
tion of such reflective articles the
very purpose of the work is baked
and its advancement for good is re-
tarded by the slight that is cast
upon those who would encourage
and further the cause.
| What are the true facts in the case.
Speaking for the work as it is being
| handled in the Eastern North Caro-
lima territory along the line of the
Norfolk Southern Railroad, we can
say that instead of the encourage
ment by the work being handled by
| demonstrators that could be classed
! as "poor whites" entirely the re-
verse is true. While the time might
have been when for certain reasons
there were ''poor whites" scattered
| throughout esom parts of the South,
| neither the fact nor inference is true
now.
The State OF North Carolina last
year, and again this, has carried off
the worlds record for the largest
yield Of corn per acre-246 % bush
els of shelled corn. The telegraph
wires Of today are announcing the
fact that Il -year-old boy in Chowan
| county, n. c., along the line of the
Norfolk Southern, has made arecord
yield this year of 40 bushels of shelled
corn per acre. Several other boys from
the same county have yields of
between 100 and 140 bushels per acre.
kilograms just received from the
great National Horticultural Exhib-
it, now being held at Council Bluffs,
! Iowa, announce that North Corolina
has won the grand sweepstakes prize
for the best general fruit display.
| North Carolina has already been
awarded "a first premiums, 10 second
and 6 third in this great national
exhibit in competition with the fruit
and farming lands and people of the
whole United States. How about
the South, with its "poor whites, )"
who have to be ''shown" by Govern
ment demonstrators, and who, as in
the further language OF the article,
when the Individual cannot be per-
suaded to farm as advised, he must
be hired to do So"
Along the line of the Norfolk South
ern we will say that farm demonstra-
ton work is well advanced and being
encouraged in every way by the rail-
road as we'll as the Government.
This week a corn fair was held in
Washington, n. c., on the Norfolk
Southern Railroad, which in point OF
interest and exhibits would rank we'll
with any of the celebrated corn
belts OF the West. These corn-grow-
ing contests were started under the
direction of the railroad two years
ago, and through encouragement by
the railroad management and with
the assistance given by the Govern
ment demonstration work, wonderful
interest and progress has developed.
Only the most intelligent and the
most successful farmers, however, are
| honOred with the position of demon
strators, and if the writer of the
article in the New Idea Magazine
could see some of the home farms of
these demonstrators before they ever
heard OF the Government "showing
how, they would call most of these
places model farms to begin with.
To class any of these demonstrations
or their followers poor whites"
merits the severest criticism on the
part OF the intelligent citizens of the
country, and every newspaper IN
terested in the betterment of the
South should lend hand in the cor
rectlon OF the false impressions that
result from the publication OF like
| statements.
B. E. RICE,
Agent Land and Industrial Dept.
| Norfolk Southern Railroad.