The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-05-07

creased 81 per cent; rye 53.4 pei
cent; barley, sos per cent, ant
oats, 63.S per cent, and her farmer:
in the last twelve years have tre5let
their savings bank accounts.
The same methods in Germany
made for wheat a gain Of 31.6 pei
cent; oats, 36 per cent; barley, 81
per cent; rye, Al per cent. in quar-
ter cf a century.
It would be criminal to shut oul
eyes to the meaning, the immense
significance of these data. Assume
that twenty-five years hence the av'
erage yield per acre for wheat, oats
rye, barley, potatoes and cotton, IN
der the system outlined in this bill
shall have increased fifty per cent
The result will startle the mathema.
tician and confound the dreamer.
Are our conditions such as vii.
warrant the belief that the system
will work as we'll with US as it has
under the conditions Of these foreign
countries? Emphatically yes. Al.
ready more than thirty of the land
grant colleges are using this method
for adult teaching in limited ways
Sixty years ago practically nothing
was being done by any Of them along
these lines. The enthusiasm with
which it has been received, and its
efficacy in reaching the difficulties,
are the forces which have created
the unanimous sentiment Of the
country for the passage of the meas
ure embodying the details worked
out in this bill. The results have
been so encouraging that the princi-
pal railroads of the country, the larg-
est farm implement companies, such
as the International Harvester Co.,
the National Association of Bankers,
with whom the first question is:
"Will it pay?" have Joined with the
farmers and the agricultural colleges
in support of it. 1t is possible to
multiply Illustrations from reports OF
this work showing it to be beyond
question the practical solution of the
problems with which our agriculture
must deal.
One illustration, however, where
the demonstration system has COW
cred a number Of states and has been
IN operation for a sufficient time 20
make sure that it is no fash in the
pan is sufficient. This work has
been carried on in the Southern
States since 1904 when it was organ
lied by the late DR.. Seaman A
Knapp. It's success was immediate
and remarkable, nor has it lost any
Of it's force by lapse Of time. On
the contrary it continues to grow
in influence and good. From a small
beginning, with only a few trained
men in the field, it has developed in
less than adecade into great move
ment with a thousand agents or ad-
yisers, one hundred thousand farm.
ers, seventy-fiye thousand boys II
the corn clubs, and twenty-five
thousand girls in the canning
clubs who are receiving instruc'
ton and becoming centers from
which radiate the better methods OF
agriculture and home ecomnoics te
their neighbors. TIE results OF this
work in the South have made pro-
found impression not only upon hel
own people, but upon the people o1
the entire country and the world
Representatives Of Russia, Brazil
England, South Africa and Argen.
tina have studied it. Sir Horace
Plukent, member of the committee
some years ago to visit contiental
countries to investigate their sys'
tens of extension teaching, after a
visit to this country and study OF
this work expresses himself as pro-
eoundly impressed with the good
sense which underlies it. OF 1t Dr.
Walter H. Page, said: "It Is the
greatest single piece Of constructive
educational work in this or any age
Since it was put upon a firm basis II
has doubled the yield per acre both
Of corn and cotton as against the
average in every state in which it has
been practiced. The results in South
Carolina are typical. The average
yield Of seed cotton per acre for this
state for 1911 was seven hundred
and ninety-five pounds, while the
average yield reported on seven thou
sand three hundred and seventy-one
acres and by one thousand and seven
ty-four demonstrators is one thou
sand five hundred and sixty-nine
and two-tenths pounds Of seed cottor
per acre, or an increase over ordinar!
methods Of ninety-four and four
tenths per cent. or about twenty
three dollars per acre. The average
yield of corn for South Carolina fol
1911 was 1872 bushels, while the
average yield reported on 5,sss
acres by 1872 demonstrators in 3S.z
bushels, an increase under demon
stration methods Of 1854 per cent
or about $40 per acre.
These are cold facts, and If every
farmer in the South had followed the
demonstration methods on his farm
for 1911 millions Of dollars woulo
have been added to the wealth o.
that section. What is true OF the
South is equally true Of the entire
country. Will the system work:
The best answer is, it has worked sc
successfully in the South that the
people who are feeling its benefits
are to-day making voluntary contri'
buttons for the great memorial tc
the author of the plan. The Lever
bill proposes to natioualize the WORE
already in existence in the South ane
a majority Of the land grant college:
of the country, and to coordinate II
with the other agencies at work solV'
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