Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-23
Farm Demonstration Work.

The Farmers Cooperative Demon
stration Work is an organized system
by which the simple and well-estab-
are taken directly to the man on the
farm.
1t is a we'll known fact that there
have been for many years farmers
who have made a pronounced success
of their farming operations. These
men have always secured larger re-
turns per acre than their neighbors.
The effort of the Farmers Co-opera-
tive Demonstration Work is to bring
the farmers generally up to the stand
ard of those who make a success Of
their farming operations. l do not
need to say that the influence of this
work has now been felt in every south
ern state. A comparison Of statistics
in the table published with this ar
ticle will be sufficiently convincing to
any one, especially when it is known
that the averages mentioned in the
table are collected from the very large
number of demonstrators who have
followed the teachings of the depart
ment. This work goes directly to the
problem of securing the adoption Of
modern methods of farming by OBJ
tanning the close cooperation of a
large number of farmers in raising
crops under improved practices. Its
teachings are simple and direct, we'll
proven and practical and not theoreti-
cal and experimental.
The results have been certain and
progress rapid. There has not been a
year since the establishment of the
work in 1904 that has not shown
marked increase in the number of
demonstrators and in the number of
agents employed.
A systematic effort to increase the
earning capacity of the farmer is the
the increased ability to afford the i'm
provement. This is the fundamental
principle upon which DR.. Knapp pro-
ceeded in extending and systematizing
out the principle there are four great
objects at which to aim.
l. A better return per acre at less
cost, by the use Of better methods and
modern labor saving implements.
2. The building up and maintaining
of soil fertility by proper farm prac-
tices.
3. The production of home supplies
for man and beast.
4. The adoption of sound business
principles in farming, by operating
on a cash basis instead of a credit
basis in the production of all crops.
In fact these four objects might be
consolidated into one by saying that
this work seeks to establish happy,
contented and prosperous rural homes.
The south has before it an era of
agricultural advancement which IL
seems to me is bound to bring it into
ty One of the healthiest indications
of this tendency is the growing feel
ing of cooperation existing between
all men who are working along SINH
lar lines in the south. Its great edu-
Gators get together for conference, its
commercial organizations meet in con-
ventions to consider the interests Of
the south generally, and its agricultur-
al colleges, commissioners of agricul-
ture, and it's workers in the depart
ment of agriculture at Washington are
steadily growing into closer touch with
one another under more broad
minded appreciation of the work being
done by each of these great forces.
The load pulls easily when your
neighbOr's teams and yours are to the
same wagon.
The greatest step that has been
taken in recent years is the awaken
ing of the fact that it could grow
corn. need not refer to the well
known fact that in 1910 he south in
creased it's crop of corn by practically
billion bushels, if we include the
state of Missouri as part of the south.
The increase in nine of the southern
states that have not heretofore been
considered corn-raising states was
15S.2O4.OOO bushels, or As per cent of
the total increase of the United States.
While it is true that the acreage in
corn was increased, it is likewise true
that every southern state increased it's
average production per acre of corn
and some of them made this increase
TO a considerable degree.
The progressive farmers of the
south have also been brought to real
iZe that they have an abundance of
crops which can be raised for grazing
purposes and for hay. With the clo-
vers, cowpeas and other leguminous
crops the farmer of the south has
wonderful possibilities not only for
restoring nitrogen and humus to the
soil, but for producing crops with
which to feed his stock, and we must
add to these the small grains for win
ter grazing and the grasses which may
be used for permanent pastures. Corn.
hay and grass mean live stock. and.
if we can only get rid of the tick in