The Washington bee., 1910-12-24
Diversified Farming

HUNTSVILLE. Ala, Dec. I6.-Di-
versihed farming, stock raising and
dairying were emphasized in the short
course for Negro farmers held here
at the Agricultural and Mechanical
College for Negroes, of which Walter
s Buchanan IS president. The course
was cOnClu led to-day with demOnstra-
tons on the college farm, and has
been in progress all the week More
than 200 Negro farmers from this sec
ton of the State have witnessed the
demonstrations and heard the lectures,
III many cases being accompanied by
their wives and families.
The demonstration work was IN
charge of George w. Patterson, gov
ernment agent for this immediate dis
trIct, while the whole course was con-
Quoted by T NJ Campbell, represent
ing the United States Department OF
Agriculture for the district of Mis-
sISsippi, Alabama and Louisiana. AS
sisting in the demonstrations were w.
A. Tate, c. d. Menafee, Harry W.
Sims and George w. Patterson.
Prof Campbell called attention to
the effort the United States Depart
of distinct help and encouragement
To- farmers throughout the South, and
urged the sympathetic cooperation
ON the part of Negro farmers. He
declared that inasmuch as they form
ed a goodly portion Of the agricuI-
tural population of the Southland, 1t
was incumbent upon the Negro to
reap as much benefit as possible out
OF their farm work.
A notable address before the farm
crS and visitors was made by PTeSI-
dent Walter S. Buchanan, who is him
self an agricultural expert He stated
in the outset that 1t was the duty of
landlords to encourage their Negro
renters, ShaTe-CTOppeTs and wage
hands to take advantage OF latter-day
instruction in farming, not only TO
the end that labOrers themselves
might be benefited, but that the larg-
est possible returns might be made to
them individually.
Among other things, Prof Buchan-
an said: "I am glad that all classes
of Negro farmers are taking a keener
interest in scientific agriculture-boOk
farming, as we used to call 1t. We have
been a long time learning the absurd
ity of the statement that any old fool
can farm 1t IS being proved more
and more to our satisfaction that the
man who puts the most brains into
the soil reaps the largest harvest
This IS true whether the farmer be a
renter, share-CroppeT, wages hand or
owner. The man who gets the larg-
est crops at the lowest cost Is a de-
sirable citizen in whatever community
and he will soon be the owner of his
farm, 10 matter how high the cost.
1T is encouraging 10 note that at
this short course we have mothers
and fathers, young men and women,
who are share-CTOppeTS and wages
hands, as well as hose who are rent
erS and owners Now, when you re-
turn TO your homes, put into practice
the things you have learned here
Practice them regardless of whether
you are working for wages or run
ming on your own hook, l know of
man who allowed the rain TO spoil
a whole winters supply of feed for
him because the landlord refused to
repair the roof of his barn. Insist on
having the landlord do his fair share,
but don't allow your crop, your stock,
your family and your standing as a
farmer to suffer because a miserly
and non-progressive landlord won't
do his duty
Some of us let the houses we live
in rot down and refuse to drive a
nail because we don't own the place;
yet we i've there from year to year
and subject our wives and children to
much suffering and sickness. This is
what drives our boys and girls from
the farms and away from our hearth
sides For our own sakes, let US make
our homes comfortable and inviting,
whether we own them or not.
These scientific farmers are going
to talk to you about deep blowing and
will perhaps say that the results Of
deep plowing show up better three
years after than does the first year.
Some share-croppers and renters are
so shOrt-sighted they won't plOW deep
for fear they viii be making the land
better for some one else. II all rent
ers practice such narrow policy, then
rented land would never be improved
On the other hand, if all our farmers
do their utmost to put the farms on
which they work in frst-class shape.