New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1913-12-13
MODERN FARMERS ARE
READING MEN.


.=- - -
MODERN FARMERS ARE
READING MEN.
No business in the world ths
!. worth while can be conducte
successfully with ignorance as II
chief asset. The day has fOreve
a,assed when the sensible farmc
w,ll rob his home of his most cal
able sons by lifting them for pre-
f,ssiopal careers, while retainin
,he duilest and most backwar
son to conduct the farm. Tha
foolish policy has been responsi
hle for the UyercrowdIng of tn
prdfessions, for the filling OF pri
ana alms-houses and asylum
With criminals, in eficients an'
aegenerates, and for the con
finued rolybimg of the soil of 1T
fartility because the boy didn
.need education TO be a farmer.
Except in remote Out-of-the
way sections and among certain
selfish classes, whose interests are
advanced by Keeping the masses
,ynorailt&and there are more OF
that class than most folks imagine
men who would be speedily
relegated to the rear in politics,
n business and in society werc
thp masses educated and alert
we no longer hear sneers about
.sbook learning" The farmer
of today is an intelligent man.
~ must be so if he is to continue
a be a farmer, for his business
reoujres high order Of intelli-
eence and something more than
mere smattering of science.
As a matter of fact, agriculture
i the greatest science in the
world because it is the industry
mon which all depend for their
food and clothing. And yet, 1t
4 ihe most neglected of sciences,
Notwithstanding the great prog
1ess that has been made in the
South during the past half-dozen
| ysAA Stia, the farmers are
| reading. those journals devoted to
| fhe discussion of rural industries
more than they ever did before
and many of them keep up with
[fhe literature issued by the State
experiment stations and the bul-
letins which the Agricultural De-
psAment at Washington sends
|cut for the instruction OF the
people.
More than ever they are send
INK their sons to the agricultural
/ colleges Of the State universities
and the day is not distant when
These students will be largely in
|jhs majority among those who
|mntrjclAate there each session. In
|the early days of our country the
1tmer was a reading man, in
|3lhny cases he was man or
broad culture and refinement.
Dur greatest statesmen were re-
|4rlited from the ranks of the far
|sten, and those were days of con-
|olructive work. when men accept
Ia public service at a sacrifice to
|Asir own interests, served faith
|funy In order to be of advantage
|lo their fellow-men, and looked
Iongingly always to the time when
NV should be able to retire to
(heir farms to lead the simple
p11toral lives Of country gentle
~. Then the cheap profession
(I politician succeeded to the p0-
tioAl estates from which the
A6aest, pure-minded, clean-hand-
q farmes withdrew, government
1eeenerated, and the people with
There are evidences of better /,
.1s now. The farmer is read
land thinking, the rural-mind-
ehDolmaster is abroad, the i
6et universities through their
emnsiOn departments are carry
1novqedge directly to the q
Ne on the arms and corn d
~ pig clubs, canning clubs /
y eansing them to study the \
zIeultural industry rs they new Y
eonld have been induced to
Nv II before.
le6e things bring intelligence Z
Ear upon a vocation which :
" TO recently, been conduct
N main force and awkard-
md they elevate the farm
Industry to a plane of dig
Commensurate with it's in
nt Importance. The true
lolturist il in fact a scientist :
e4 - business man. 4 fact
Il has. been difficult 30 inn
upon many. But the rural
oItnral schools are empha-
this upon the pupils who
" Hstruction there, and in
We parents are seeing the
eiAl results thai come from
3 science with good business
! md intelligent work.
.el activities and industries
Arge in the eyes Of thinking
nd women throughout the
today. The scientist in his
atory, the philosopher in
cset The economist engross-
Z Tie problems that affect hu-
proercs, the great captains
1tty. Of finance and Of
49,