Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-15

IN the misty ages or the past there was
beautiful country called Palestine,
celebrated for the fertility OF its hills
and valley. and for the industry and sue
eeSs OF its people. In this fair country
Christ was born. and hence IL had the
honor OF nurturing and giving TO the
world the Saviour OF mankind. Cen
turtles have elapsed since that eventful
season. but in spite Of the divine favor
conferred upon that section of the uni
verse. the Palestine OF today is princi-
palIy a barren and unfruitfui waste. Its
Inhabitants are ignorant. and impover+
tshed: its soil untitled; and its ancient
commerce departed. Where agriculture
q practiced. only the crudest methods
Of culture are pursued. and those who
follow II exc out a miserable and (un-
certain existence Can Il be that this Is
the country which was given to the
children OF Israel as a rewprd for their
eafthfulness during their long years or
bondageg Can IL be that this Is the
country which. once flowed with milk
ana honey and IL so. why the remarka-
BILE change in the fortune and condition
Of its inhabitants2 In the. light OF MOD
ern scientific knowledge, the answer Is
not difficult to find, for this once favor
Cd country has been blighted because OF
the fneficiency OF its people. and their
failure to utilize the natural gifts OF a
divine providence for their own pres
srvation. and hence the maintenance OF
their country in the vanguard Of civiliz-
alton
In America we stand at the forefront
Of new era. we view the future with con-
ndence; yet some OF the issues which
must have confronted the now decay
dent Palestine are with Us today. and
they require the ablest thought ana
consideration which the nations leaders
can. give In order that they may ne
solved in a manner which will insure the
integrity OF the race and prevent repe-
tition Of the conditions which have de-
stroyed one OF the worlds ancient CEN
tiers OF civilization Already an exhausted
soil or a reduction in yield per acre and
the question OF feeding the multitude
which vii presently inhabit the United
States are pressing upon US with m
tensssy. The problems mentioned are
indeed OF paramount Importance. for they
strike az the foundations OF industry
and on their successful solution depends
the future of the nation
Education is indispensable TO rural sue
cess Consider for a moment some OF
the diseases which affect the plants and
animals. with which the farmer has 20
deal The potatoes are attacked by
BY blight: cotton by anthracnose; cow
meas by the wilt disease: corn BY smut
wheat and oats by rust The hog. which
was the stay and support OF our peo-
ple during the pioneering age. succumos
20 cholera and lung worm; the dog TO
rabies: chickens TO roup: the cow TO milk
fever; the horse to distemper and CLAN
ders This list might be extended IN
definitely. but the more common anec-
lions have been selected by way OF IL
diseases OF our crops and animalsE
science has demonstrated that there Is
a definite cause and remedy for each
and that neither sacrifice OF burnt OF
fering or appeal to superstitious usages
wfu check or eradicate these diseases A
xpecffc type OF education viii alone en-
ahle the solution OF these problems sue
cessfully. ~
a primrose by the rivers hrim. yell
law primrose was to him. and II was
nothing more" The FILLER Of the soil can
no longer afford to remain In the attituue
Of the man thus described He must De-
come an intelligent. capable student Oh
nature. endeavring 10 understand and
annreciate all the hidden knowledge
which once acquired viii make him DOM
tant factor IN his particular environ
ment-
We have undertaken to make education
universal in America; we must now un-
dertake TO make II vocational. Few men
possess the power of describing adequate
" the BENEFITS which education has con-
ferred upon mankind. But the rise and
spread sof civilization has been coinci-
dent w3tn education- Development was
slow az first, because man lived in terror
Of natural phenomena. and therefore in
opposition to nature / the last 80 years
development has gone forward with 81
gantic Strides, because man during that
time has learned to embrace and utilize
the assistance which nature stands ever
ready to confer II he Is capable OF in
terpreting -her Alright Thus. diseases
which have threatened the destruction
OF the race. such as smallpox, cholera.
yellow fever. typhoid fever. and diph-
iberia have been brought largely under
control. and in some instances OF serious
alarm within the past decade. but II Is
now known that the inexhaustible sup
plies OF the air may be made TO serve
humanity indefinitely Without the dis
.cOvery and reduction OF the phosphorus
OF nature into available forms. the pres
ent enormous crops could not be raised
In the south May We not expect through
education when properly focused and d.
rected to meet and successfully over
come all the difficulties which are like
ly Il confront the race in the future7
Il appears from the data on hand that
agricultural education is a public ques-
ton. II has always been a public ques
ton. but II Is only recently that its
vast economic concern has been realized.
We have been VIGOROUSLY Indifferent to
economic problems in all particulars. but
probably in no sense so negligent as to
those questions which concern the farm
err Yet the farmer has to deal with
the most vital Of all Of orr aconornir
questions He determines the efficiency