Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-02-15
RURAL DEVELOPMENT


Nrom the Newark Evening News.)
/ Secretary Wilson, OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture, says he cannot
see why more of the material people
have to eat is not raised near the
centers of population that consume
it.
Why, for example, should potatoes
be brought from Scotland, Mexico and
Canada Dr apples from Manitoba.
when farm land can be bought with
in an hour of New York or any other
big Eastern city cheaper than in Iowa
or the great West? This applies to
New Jersey in particular, where the
land is unexcelled for these and
other farm products, and the markets
are the best in the Western world.
This is only another reason why
there should be an uplifting of rural
life, and broader, more profitable
development of rural possibilities. 1t
is unquestionably an argument in
favor of the Y. NJ. G.. A. extension
work which has previously been de-
scribed.
Just at the present time North
Jersey SCENE to be in very fair way
to enjoy a number fthe benefits
/. likely to grow out of numerous move
ments in the direction of better living
in the country.
A bill has been introduced in Con-
gress carrying an incidental appro-
priation of $500,000, this amount to
be increased each year for nine years
by an additional 100000 over the
preceding year, the money to be paid
| to the States for the carrying on of
extension work through agricultural
schools, by instruction inagriculture,
home economics, animal industry and
, rural affairs generally.
In Sussex county government
agent recently met representative
body of farmers with view of estab-
fishing farm bureau, the govern
ment offering to pay one-third of
expense The Lackawana Railroad
offered to bear another third. This
farm bureau is not an experiment
farm, it is local bureau with an ex-
part, salaried manager, to whom the
farmers present their questions, their
problems and their grievances, and
he helps them out.
problem is likely to open up new dis
triets in Morris, Warren and Sussex
counties. If the State no longer in
sists on crushed stone roads, but will
aid in building the much cheaper and
less extensively maintained gravel
roads. many miles will be built to
take the place of common dirt roads.
And this will bring the improved rural
districts closer to the markets, the
cities and to urban advantages gener-
ally.
The general interest taken in the
chestnut tree blight, the hickory bark
borer, the indiscriminate destruction
of the once abundant cedar tree and
the State road commissioners sug-
gestion of planting trees along all
public roads will all tend to bring
the North Jersey rural districts in
touch with progressive men and pro-
gressive ideas.
The State fish hatchery, for which
the Sutton farm, in Warren county
has been bought, will spread useful
knowledge and popuIarize that sec
ton.
One of the results of the movement
to add interest to rural life was made
especially manifest at the recent
meeting of the Sussex County Nature
Study Club, at which the members
reported having seen during the past
year 129 different kinds of birds, and
twenty-seven varieties of ferns.
The corn growing contests among
the boys, fostered by the State Board
of Agriculture, are other evidences of
the new interest that is being de-.
veloped in country life.
All this is only beginning, but it
is full of promise of excellent results
in the way of rural development.
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