Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-14

should be. We have set up and SUBJ
sidized agricultural schools, hortieul-
tural schools, schools of poultry
breeding. and the rest, and they have
done excellent work. Our support of
them should be. hearty and generous.
But more effective way still has
been found by which the farmer can
be served. Lectures and schools and
experimental farms attached TO
schools like laboratories are excellent.
but they do not and can not of them
selves push their work home. Some
States have gone much beyond this
and we should follow them with zest.
1.-THE thing that tells is demonstra-
ton work. The knowledge of the
schools should be carried out to the
farms themselves. DIR. Seaman A.
Knapp found the way when he was
sent into the South to fight the boil
weevil Choosing a good farm and a
good farmer here and there. he
showed the farmer how to cultivate
part OF field. gave him simple fun
damental/ directions. brought him Sc
lected seed and made frequent visits
afterward to see that his directions
were carried out. OF course, the
neighbours promptly took notice and
the next season did the same things.
with the same results-good crops,
earlier crops. crops that the weevil
was no match for. And fighting the
weevil was only an incident The
work grew in every direction-not
work in the schools, but work sug-
gested and directed by men sent out
from the schools to take science to
the farm, until the agricultural de-
partment could not supply the men
called for from every direction. The
countryman began once more to come
into his own When the farmer does
fully take science into partnership
and become his own master and for
tune builder, the day will be gone
, once for all when the townsman can
tax him and ignore him and absorb
unto himself the powers Of govern
inent at his pleasure.
1T does not require a great deal of
money to train men and send. them
out for this work; and when once 1t
is begun it goes on of itself. Private
persons. voluntary independent ASSOC
Citations. county authorities, take it
up. 1t is thing that gives life as
it goes. 1t awakens countrysides and
ronses them to take charge of them
selves. 1t is not help from the gov
eminent. it is merely light from the
government The light does the rest.
We should give ourselves the pleas
ure. the pride and satisfaction, OF
putting New Jersey forward to set an
example of this truly great and in
telligent work for RELAXING the foun-
dations of wealth and PROSPERITY in
the United States,
This is the way also to attack the
problem of forest preservation and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES work done
throughout the State by way of ex-
ample, until 1t is demonstrated not
only how the forests can be preserved
and renewed, but also how profitable
they can be made without waste--at
once one of the most profitable and
one of the most permanent sources of
wealth, a permanent crop devoted to
a thousand uses.
''It is by such means that the peo-
pie come to understand themselves
and their own interests and assume
their real sovereignty. Discussion OF
public questions becomes very vital
thing for them when the functions
of government touch their daily lives
and there is something of immediate
consequence to them to discuss. Dis
cussions must constantly clear the
air and drive everything hidden from
its covert. We ought. therefore. to
afford the people every facility for
discussion. Convenient and inexpen-
sive meeting places ought to be sup
piled at the public expense 1t ought
not to be necessary to hire hall
whenever it Is desired to have
public meeting. The owners of halls
charge high prices when they can
and are often partisans and Will not
let their halls at all to those whom
they wish to defeat or embarrass.
Every community has its school
houses. They should be available for
every kind of proper neighborhood
meeting out of school hours If
local school boards are illiberal or
partisan or unreasonable. they ought
to be commanded in their duty in
this matter by statute. / recommend
such legislation to you very heartily.