The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-07-11
Farmers Institute.

i at Leesburg, last Monday most
profitable and interesting Institute
for farmers. While there was q
goodly attendance, yet, it is unfor-
tuaate that all the farmers were not
in attendance.
4 These Institutes are held by the
College under what is called the
Extension" plan, going into every
county that all may have the oppor-
tunity to hear and have the bene-
lift Of the experience Of the trained
lexperts from the College, and get
their experiences and theories OBJ
tanned after careful experimenting
and actual tests.
Prof. Mediation, at the opening
Of the session, outlined the objects
OF the Institutes and, in a few well
timed remarks, put every one at
ease and on tip toe Of expectation,
His talks specially related to horti-
culture and all were requested oask
any questions as they wished. Prof.
James made his remarks more es-
pecially in the cause of the boy
corn clubs, and it is astonishing
to one who has not kept in touch
with this feature Of their work to
know what has been accomplished
in this line Of work and the results
to the state at large.
Does it ever occur to the average
farmer what is the gradual increase
/ in the yield per acre Of corn in the
last few years it being conceded that
these clubs are largely instrumental
in bringing it about. Consider what
an influence the offering Of premiums
by the Albany Herald did for this
and adjoining counties in the way
of educating the farmers as to the
possibilities of our lands in the pro-
duction Of corn. Prior to that time,
lbut few realized that we could, right
here, make 100 bushels Of corn per
acre and even more. The boys corn
clubs are doing this for the rising
generation and it bodies well for the
future.
The lecture of Prof. Rast, ms
tructor in Agronomy, was brim full
of useful and absorbing information
and suggestions. It is astonishing,
when we have it tested, how much
we throw away in money and effort
every year for lack Of tested ex-
perience in farming and how few
farmers take the time or trouble to
make comparative experiments to
test what we are doing. We pro-
pose at another time to give some
Of the tables showing, for instance,
the comparative merits Of different
legumes as feeders for succeeding
crops.
Prof. Vanetter gave an intensely
interesting and practical lecture on
seed selection and corn culture, that
should have been heard by every
farmer in the county. In their ex-
periments and actual tests, to see
what a difference there is in the
prolific corns and those not prolific;
the difference in yields of different
grains Of corn planted from the
same ear; the difference in vitality
Iof different stalks Of corn and how
to overcome the defects. These lect-
ures are goodlto suggest chains Of
thought and plans Of research and
experiment that will be of constant
advantage to every real farmer who
wishes to get out of the old well
beaten ruts. It is to be desired that
farmers viii be mere anxious and
solicitous to avail themselves Of these
occasions whenever presented. They
open up new sources of light and
knowledge, for the day is fast de-
parting when farmer will say, i
want no book farming in mine. ="
Show me one of that kind and I
will show you one who is "sot in
his ways" and besides is hide
bound" SO to speak and will always
carry rock in one end ofthe saddle
bags because daddid."