The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-04-11
fASS1NG OF GREAT AGRICTI-
IUEtAL STATESMAN.

the men who make two blades az
grass grow where only one grew be-
lore, out the man who shows millions
or people how to increase production.
TO destroy pests of agriculture, and
open new doors to farmers. Judged
by that standard, DR.. Seaman A.
Knapp, Chief of the Farm
tive Demonstration work of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture, who died
last week. deserves to rank among
the greatest men of his day and gen
Grafton. He was not only a great
mar in what he did to open new ave-
nues to farmers that have largely re-
voiutioniZed farming, but necessarily
he was a mar of great ability, because
men do not impress themselves and
their ideas greatly upon other people
unless hey have brains ana leader
ship.
A few years ago a notable meeting
of educators was held at PinehErst,
and at that meeting a score of the
most distinguished men in America
made addresses. Easily, the greatest
address delivered there was b. DR..
Knapp. It was on the practical sub
ject of agriculture, and in its treat
ment he brought a craftsmanship as
comprehensive AS Daniel Webster
over brought to bear on the discussion
OF "the Constitution Of the Union.
He discussed commonplace things III
so able a manner as to make them
as interesting and as thrilling as II
he was discussing some new and Won
orf, 3;ccNvopU It wa 81 remark
able a speech that the editor OF this
paper requested it for publication,
printed it in this paper the day fol
flowing.
DIR. Knapp was a native of Vermont
and lived in Iowa and in Louisiana be-
fore coming to the position as Chief
of the Demonstration work for the
Federal Government. He, therefore,
understood the farming conditions OF
every section Of America. The first
| work he did in the South that brought
him into national prominence II
made the people Of Louisiana n
Texas rich, was in reference TO rice
He enabled the people OF
Texas to open large areas to the pcof-
iGa bic cultivation Of rice that a
never before Dee available for agrl-
cultural purposes From that success
and the pointing out Of the need or
drainage and the practical way OF
drainage, it was his craftsmanship
that conceived the remarkable work
that the Department OF Agriculture
has done in the line OF demonstration.
He preached Investigation. Many
other men have don that. but he Or
eanized and put behind this preach
ing the power Of the Federal Gov
eminent. and he so impressed his
views upon the Secretary OF
ApricnIture and others that Con-
eress voted larger and larger
appropriations to enable Ut.
knapp to employ practical farmers
to go into every county in the coun-
try and show farmers 0 to improve
their methods: how to diversity their
crops: raising more crops on the acre
Of land. and to change agriculture
from a thing Of unremunerative druid
gerry to a business where hard WORK
would bring good returns.
It was DR.. Knapp who pointed he
way to escape and relief to Texas
farmers. when the boil weevil threat
Iened destruction Of its cotton crop
and the Texas people did not hesitate
ito say that the farmers or that state
owe more to him than to any man
who has lived in this generation. It
was true Of DIR. Knann. as it has been
true of a few other wonderful men.
that his great work was done in his
old age. He was over seventy before
he undertook his nationwide work
Of farm demonstration and went to
Washington as its head, and. although
old in years, he was young in strength
and in spirit. He was much IN the
saddle, He travelled much. went on