The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-04-26
BANKERS AND THE FARMERS
Agricultural Interests Need Active AID
Of Former-lmproved Methods
Increase Production

r L. Watts, dean of school OF agra
culture and experimental station
Pennsylvania State college. writes as
follows:
All classes of people are now mani
Testing great interest in agriculture.
AS the lumber and mineral supplies OF
the state became exhausted farmers
show great interest In improved
methods Of crop production. Farmers
Institutes and agricultural meetings
are more largely attended than few
years ago. Farm papers and books on
agricultural topics are more generally
read. The bulletins of the agricultural
experiment stations are valued az
never before. Farm demonstrations
are popular and the service of country
agents is In demand in all sections.
Thousands Of letters Of inquiry are re-
ceived by experiment stations and
there Is evidence on every hand that
scientific methods are more generally
employed than few years ago.
The interest in farming and in agri-
cultural education is manifested by
the increased attendance at our agri-
cultural colleges. At the Pennsylvania
State college there were 73 students
taking courses in agriculture In 1905,
"a in 1906, III In 1907, 202 in 1908, 337
in 1909, 479 in 1910, 638 in 1911, 1924 in
1912. II proper facilities are provided,
it is highly probable that 1000 stu
dents will be enrolled in the school of
agriculture at the Pennsylvania State
college in four or five years from now.
Farmers are interested In banking.
Many of the most prosperous ones are
stockholders. All progressive farmers
maintain bank accounts, which they
find exceedingly valuable in the hand
ling of their business. Others find It
necessary to make loans from time to
time, especially in the spring OF the
year. when it is necessary to purchase
lime, fertilizers, seeds. implements and
other supplies.
Again, farmers are interested In
banking because they want improved
systems Of banking.
This matter is not only Of interest
to landowners who find 1t necessary
to borrow from time to time, but is es-
pecially important to the hundreds
and thousands of young men who are
unable to buy farms on account of in
sufficient capital. In an audience o.
200 students at the Pennsylvania State
college only two owned farms, and
practically all Of the others would like
to purchase farms il long-term loans
could be secured at reasonable rate
OF interest. Our college graduates are
very much interested In the amortise-
mens plan which has been introduced
in Illinois.
Bankers are interested In farming
5becausA they know that the prosperity
off the farmer means the prosperity OF
the banker. Banks lose money on
small balances, and, therefore. 1t is to
their interest that farmers prosper,
and are thus able to carry balance OF
$1UG or more. Again, bankers are In
terested in keeping capital at home,
and do not like to see 80 many thou
sands and millions of dollars go west
ward every year which should be kept
in Pennsylvania Improved methods
Of farming will increase production
and make better citizens. because the
farmers will have more money to
spend for the education OF their chill
dren and other home and community
needs.