Semi-weekly herald., 1912-01-18
Trained AgriCu|tudst
to Teach Farmers Of
Each County in U.S.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. IA
bill of great import will be introduced
in the house of representatives to-
day, by Representative Lever of South
Carolina, and on the same day it will
be presented in the senate jointly by
Senators Hoke Smith and Page. The
bill provides for the further endow-
ment and support of agricultural col
leges to enable them to assist in get
ting into practice the best methods of
agriculture evolved by operation of
the plan of establishing and maintain.
ing agricultural colleges and expert
ment stations in the various states.
This measure is the joint work of
the National Soil Fertility league, the
, executive committee of the colleges of
agriculture and the statesmen above
named. 1t is in line with the presi-
dents recommendation in his address
at the National Conservation con-
gress at Kansas City, Mo-, Sept. 25,
1911, it has the support of the house
leaders of both parties, and it may be
regarded as an omni-partisan meas
ure.
According to the general plan out
of which this measure springs, it is
proposed that the procedure shall con-
sist of getting into general practice
the best methods known of scientific
agriculture by employing trained agri-
culturists, or practical farm demon
strators, skilled in the most approved
methods of farm practice, to take to
the farmer on his own farm the in
formation or knowledge that will en-
able him, the latter, to interpret meth
DDS of farming. In plain terms, it
will as rapidly as possible, place a
trained, practical man, selected and
directed by the respective state agri-
cultural colleges, permanently in each
agricultural county of the United
States, and enable the farmer to be-
come master of his calling aided by
the best services the country can fur
nish, and supported by federal and
state funds.
According to the provisions of the
bill there will be an appropriation be-
ginning at the rate of less than one
cent per capita and will approximate
three cents per capita by the time the
annual appropriation shall have in
creased from $5OO,OOO per year, the
starting point, to little over three
million dollars, when it reaches the
maximum. To have clear idea of
the distribution of these funds it must
be understood that each state receiv-
ing its share of the fund must ap-
propriate an equal amount for this
purpose.
Most authorities have expressed the
belief that the operation Of this plan
will in a few years increase the farm
output at least so per cent. That
means an increase of wealth per cap
ita of about $50 per annum, and it
adds to the country's assets four and
one-half billions in national resources.
The average acreage of Europe gives
from two to three times the yield Of
the American farms, notwithstanding
their soil has been producing for cen
turies more than the lands have been
cropped here.
In the presidents opinion this prom
ises to be the most valuable construc-
tive legislation of recent years. Speak
err Clark says the mind cannot grasp
the benefits that should grow out of
this movement. Majority Leader Un-
derwood expresses the belief that it
will do more good to more people than
any other single enactment in gen.
GRAFTON. Mr.. II. H. Gross of Chicago,
president of the National Soil Fertility
league, says he has submitted this
specific plan to every agricultural col
Ilege in the land, there has been nc
adverse criticism and about 95 per
cent have strongly endorsed it; II
has been approved by about four hun.
dred public bodies, such as boards Of
trade, commercial associations, busi-
mess mems clubs, women's clubs, etc.
and nearly a thousand influential
newspapers have expressed willing
meas To support it.