The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-12-13

all the new methods of agriculture
and the latest scientific discoveries
of our experiment stations, on all
the perplexing problems OF farm me-
The liberality of the railroads eha-
bles us farmers to take advantage OF
these opportunities. But, my friends
it is not motives OF charity or spec
ial love for the farmers that innu-
ences the management OF the great
railroads to do this. The directors
of these great transportation COMA
MES are men of large business ex3e-
rience, they are what we call Ken
of affairs" and they are planning 'or
future benefit to their roads, Sney
know that If the farmers become edu-
Gated to improved methods OF farm
ing, that they will grow more prosuce
and more live stock on their farms,
these increased products of the rarm
must be transported to market and
their freight revenues will be increas-
ed thereby.
Now, my farmer friends, this is a
lesson for us to study. II these far
seeing business men can find so nucn
benefit to the railroads to grow out OF
better system of agriculture, why
ia it not more to our interest, for we
will surely be the first to get the ad-
vantage. The sale of the increased
products are ours, the charges for
conveyance to market is theirs. SO
we see this Is not a charitable i'm
pulse on their part, but well plan
ned business proposition.
Now, gentlemen, we are here TO
learn all we can that will help Us In
our life work New problems are
rising before us every year, new In
sect enemies, new fungus pests, new
diseases of plants and animals de-
yelop, that calls for much scientific
study and careful experiment. We
cannot do this: but our experiment
station does it for us and brings US
the results to put in practice. Let US
make good use Of them. Let us learn
to sustain and increase our soil Ter
tility by deeper tillage, the proper
use of manures and fertilizers, the
use Of the heterogeneous green manures,
the retaining the winter rains 70 we
need not fear the summer drouths.
by paying heed to these teachings we
can double the yield Of our crops and
at the same time improve the produc'
tive powers of our farms.
The recent surprising results OF
the boys corn club work should teach
us a valuable lesson. The average
yield of corn per acre in our state
has never but once reached rs bush,
els, but boy only thirteen years old
in my county this year made yield
of ak times that amount on one acre,
and several boys reached above the
hundred bushel mark.
We must produce larger yields per
acre, and better farming will do 1t,
This has become = necessity. Our
farm areas have almost reached their
maximum acreage, but earth's fast In
creasing millions of population must
be fed and clothed. This is big
lob but the farmer 10 on to 1t, and
when look into the faces OF these
Intelligent farmers here today, l see
they realize the job is theirs and tneJ
are going to hold it.
I am so glad to see so many bright
hopeful young farmers here today
They are the hope of our state anc
Tennessee needs them all. II thsJ
can begin their agricultural life II
their early manhood, where we Ole
farmers have to quit on account o.
age, what great improvement IN az
riculture the next nifty years vii
show.
| / see in this assembly some ole
gray heads, who, like myself, fftI
wears ago followed the battle flag O
the Confederacy through many hare
/ fought field, fighting for what VIZ
! thought then and still think wat
right, that each sovereign state
should govern its own internal affairs
We yielded to the arbitrament OF war
overwhelmed by an avalanche OF su
perior numbers, but that great cues
! ton is still unsettled, it is yet alive
a burning question, and must at some
! time be settled at the ballot box. Yot
young farmers may help to settle 1t
| The old soldiers laid down theil
arms and for half century cave
worked faithfully TO build up the land
they loved so well, they are nearly
all gone now, but they leave goodlJ
heritage to the rising generation
with the hope that they will guard
well their trust, be faithful to theil