The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1913-01-31
Talks To Farmers
( o Il n ty Demonstration
Farm
q, + F. PECK, Commissioner

:. nave ."tn vrgrrg the mportan,
aut },ule If county demonstratio
10 hrm IN every county to demonstra,
- th- su is of aork of original il
10 ve7tl 7ttion done 10y the experimel
stations
Np"rlmrntal work is too exper
sEr ~ II" carried on by the ind
'tjdaI farmer, aHH he is not equil,
= psn lii thu majority of cases VT
+ IT," oecessary education for the ,rk
T"n there is no necessity of ex
+ pHum =, tn < by farmers on fact
pr ~ - hV the experiment stations
/ T'e important thing to do is tC
present the facts to the farm. ers on
t demonstration farm in wa.
'' wifi )e applicable to them o!
,u. IT. farms.
! have insisted that the demon
'".alon farm should be typical OF
th' average farm, and the equip
."". for the farm should be within
90 ''"l of the average farmer, and nc
tIru operation should be undertak.
"a ""N"nd the ability of the average
tdrn"r to follow on his farm. Two
results should always be attained
)nrr a9rd product IN per acre and
ucpcaStd fertility
r. terest the farmer he must
SCI now he can increase his produc
tl'' aud increase the fertility Of his
tom without making expenditures
ou If his reach. When that j.
shown him and he has successfully
taken the first step, he will more
wiling y make tie second and third
each step in his progress will make
tn next one easier
Now when | started this agitation
! knew the Department ef Aericul- |
ture did OF have any available |
funds for getting the work under
way, but | knew it would take time
to get the farmers to understand
and appreciate the importance of
the demonstration farm and that it
did not interfere with any other
work along agricultural lines, but
intended to strengthen and make
more effective the other work under
way.
| have been trying to get the
farmer to understand the difference
between the work of the experiment
station and that of the demonstration
farm. The first solves the problem
confronting the farmer; the latter
demonstrates to the farmer how he
,an apply the solution on his farm
% improve his farm and increase
lis revenues.
We all know that for every pro-
'ressiye farmer who is keeping a.
'reast OF the progress in agricultural
we have at least ninety
Who are not making progress;
whose methods are antiquated; who !
re allowing their land to grow
poorer. If we can reach, interest :,
nd help this class of farmers tne u
'eneticial effects will be felt by all y
and industries,
The experiment stations are do, "
ng their work we'll. Our college of . .
griculture offers educational ad, u
antages along agricultural lines. II
luch is being accomplished by the VI
gricultural short courses and farm.
RS institutes. The United States u
arm demonstration agent are doing n
valuable WORK with individual Il u
lrmers in special crop production, v
ut the field for the county demon IL
ration farm is not covered. 1t I"
ill afford opportunity for continuity 81
effort in soil building; it will u
,rve as an object lesson; practical u
orking demonstration, not only II
ith few acres for a special crop, ol
ut covering every feature of farm II
ork. It will form a center for al
immunity interest; it will bring &c
le farmers together; will develop al
'-operation; will make possible On
nd practical community specializa- d
on in breeding live stock, and al
'ecializing in crop production, p'
laranteeing best prices to farmers IN
r their products. n