The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-03-27

infrequent as once a month. In some
localities there are few, or no, So
cial gatherings to attend, little mu-
sic, few books or papers to read, and
few improved implements or other
conveniences to tighten work on the
farm and in the farm home. The boy
has little encouragement financially
to remain on the farm. He is ambi-
tious and, on many farms, can see lit
tie opportunity for advancement. To
a certain extent we must look to gov
eminent for the changing of these con-
ditions through the provision of edu-
cational systems which will best fit
the boy for success as a farmer
through the provision of good country
highways which will facilitate the bus
mess and social relations of farm COM
munities, through the working out of
improved methods in agricultural col |
leges and on experiment station farms, |
and through carrying knowledge of
such methods to those farmers who
have not been able to avail themselves
of agricultural college training.
Primarily, however, believe we
must look to the individual farmers
to bring about the most important of
these changes. My investigation of
the question has led me to the con-
viction that the reason why a boy
leaves the farm can often be traced
to the conditions surrounding him.
Methods on the farm where he lives
may not be of the best There may
be a lack of implements and con-
veniences designed to tighten farm
work. Proper attention may not be
given to planning a rotation which
will embrace the maximum number of
money crops consistent with building
up soil fertility and which will econ
omize labor by distributing it as even
ly as practicable throughout the year.
, Under such conditions the boy alb
serbs the idea that farming does not
offer as favorable opportunities for
, success and advancement as are to be
= found in other occupations"
Another idea that Mr.. Finley
brought out was that often the boy
: is not given a personal interest in
the results of his labor. He works
/ hard, receives little or no money and
e has practically nothing to look for
a ward to. Some of his acquaintainces
e perhaps have gone to the city and re-
ceive what he in his ignorance of liv.
e ing expenses in the city, calls prince
r ly wages.
} The remedy for this, Mr. FINLEY
= submitted, is to give every boy on the
l. farm, as. soon as he is old enough tC
1T be of substantial help, an equitable in
IS terest in what he helps to produce
st and to follow the same principle will
Is the girls Of the family who help will
e. the Homework with the garden, thu
d dairy and the poultry.
E. In addition Mr.. Finley said: eff thu
o. farmer is indisposed to adopt new
y methods on his whole farm he ma,
or let his boy try them out on an acr
al or two. What the results may b.
e has been illustrated by the achieve
ments Of the boys corn clubs. Whel
4 the late Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, who's
/ memory the American people canno
| too highly honor, instituted the organ
ization of these clubs he created wha
I believe will be the most effectiv
3 fundamentally for checking the move
ment of the boys from the farm. A
I have said on a previous occasion
the most important work being don
by these clubs is not the growing {
corn, but the raising of farmers. TIL
boy who goes into one of these club
and follows the methods which az
ID advised by the demonstration Of the al
ricultural department or agricultur;
college, or the field agent of railwa
h department of farm improvement wor
\ and who succeeds in growing as muc
II corn on single acre as his fatht
grows on from two to four or eve
five acres, is a convert to scientif
farming. He has learned that farr
ing can be made profitable. He wi
want to apply the same progressiN
methods to larger areas and to otht
crops He becomes an optimist, an
especially if he is permitted to hay
fair interest in what he helps
y produce, I believe that the lure of Il
city will seldom be strong enough
draw him from the farm.
"The work of the boys corn clul
is, in some localities, co-ordinated wi
that of the rural schools. I belize
that this may advantageously be dol
r.