The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1913-12-19

Probably no teacher ever had more
interested and attentive class than did
the agricultural teachers who came be-
fore their classes last week. In spite Of
the weather man and fog killing, the
short course marked new epoch in the
agricultural history of Obion County.
The attendance made a rapid increase
from twenty farmers on Monday morn
lug until the end OF the week, reaching
the maximum and filling the school
room on Saturday. A conservative es-
innate of the total attendance would not
be less than four hundred farmers, and
that too of the best, intelligent, pro-
gressive farmers OF the county. A very
remarkable thing happened. 1t has
come to be almost truism with agricul-
tural reformers that owners ofvery rich
soils can hardly be interested in soil inn
provement. This rule was shattered to
pieces when it became evident, from the
very first day, that those who came did
SO not out OF mere idle curiosity or
with desire to criticize book farm
ing" but they came in an earnest atti-
tude Of sympathy and with marked
determination to know the truth about
their own business and having gotten
hold Of natures mysteries to solve that
most important problem-soil improve
ment.
The speakers themselves seemed to
feel the spirit OF enthusiasm in the air
and they went in for all they were
worth, beginning at the very alpha
bet Of agriculture, +" progressing in a
straightforward, simple manner through
the production OF crops, food and other
requirements OF plants to the more ad-
vanced subjects of stock feeding, dairy
ing, truck growing and even to the re-
direction of the rural school and church,
and, indeed, rural community life. The
soil feeds the plant, the plant feeds the
animal and the animal feeds the soil,
was natures wise decree. Man cannot
change it without he or his children pay
the peualty Of soil depletion, delapi-
dated schools and churches and stag
mated community life.
Deep blowing, lime, alfalfa, red clo-
yer, hairy veteh, soy beans, silos, inn
proved and increased farm animals, bet
ter schools are only stepping stones to
higher ideals, namely saving the coun-
try, the town and the Nation.
While this fact was not placed in the
foreground, at times the undercurrent
became so strong that it burst forth in
the midst of lecture on alfalfa or
pruning fruit trees. 1t is the goal to-
ward which these men Of vision are
leading.
Perhaps the most outstanding, hard
pressed fact Of the entire week was the
plea for the conservation il not the in
crease in soil fertility. Obion County
soils, though fertile beyond all others Of
the State, are not inexhaustible. There
fore begin now, for poverty is helpless.
This was the timely warning OF Prof. G.
A. Keffer in charge OF the extension
works Of the University OF Tennessee.
He explained how the University,
through desire to serve the people Of
the State in a more definite and direct
manner, had sought to send its trained
representatives to the people to aid in
their problems.
1t saw that red clover began to grow
little less vigorously, how corn and
wheat had felt the loss It sought the
remedy in the proper use OF lime and
deep blowing. Haying found it there.
it is trying to carry the lesson out to-