The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1913-01-10
County Demonstration Farm.
BY T. F. Peck, Commissioner.

suits of work Of original investigation
done by the experiment stations.
Experimental work is too expensive
to be carried on by the individual
farmer, and he is not equipped in the
majority Of cases with the necessary
education for the work. Then there
is no necessity of experiment BY
farmers on facts proven by the ex.
pertinent stations. The important
thing to do is to present the facts to
the farmers on the demonstration
farm in a way that will be applicable
to them On their farms.
l have insisted that the demonstra-
ton farm should be typical of the
average farm, and the equipment for
the farm should be within reach of
the average farmer, and no farm
operation should be undertaken be-
yond the ability of the average farm
er to follow on his farm. Two re-
suits should always be attained-in.
creased production per acre and IN
creased fertility.
To interest the farmer he must see
how he can increase his production
and increase the fertility of his farm
without making expenditures out of
his reach. When that is shown him
and he has successfully taken the
first step, he will more willingly make
the second and third; each step in his
progress will make the next one
easier.
Now when I started this agitation
knew the Department of Agricul-
ture did not have any available funds
for getting the work under way, but
| knew it would take the time to get
the farmers to understand and ap-
preciate the Importance of the demon
stratlon farm and that it did not in.
terfere 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 farm
er to understand the difference be-
tween 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
can apply the solution on his farm
to improve his farm and increase his
revenues.
We all know chat for every pro-
gressive farmer who is keeping
abreast of the progress in agricul.
tural pursuits, we have at least ninety
who are not making progress; whose
methods are antiquated; who are al
lowing their land to grow poorer. IF
we can reach, interest and helm this
class of farmers the beneficial effects
Will be felt by all professions and
industries.
The experiment stations are doing
their work we'll. Our college of
agriculture offers educational ad.
vantages along agricultural lines.
Much is being accomplished by the
agricultural short courses and farm
ers' Institutes. The United States
farm demonstration agents are do
ing a valuable work with individual
farmers in special crop production.
but the field for the county demon.
stration farm is not covered. It will
AFFORD opportunity for continuity Of
effort in soil building; It will serve
as an object lesson; a practical work
ing demonstration, not only with a
few acres for a special crop. but
covering every feature of farm work.
IL VIII form a center for community
interest; it will bring the farmers TO-
gether; will develop cooperation; will
make possible and practical commun.
ity specialization in breeding live
stock, and specializing in crop pro
duction, guaranteeing best prices to
farmers for their products.
We have abundant evidence that
the farmers interest in the demon.
stration farm is aroused: we have
inquiries from every county in the
state asking how the demonstration
farm can be secured.
The Department Of Agriculture sug.
gests that the county court of each
county wanting the demonstration
Iarm' buy a tract of land typical of
farms of the county, that the
equipment and labor be provided nv
the county and the county receive
all the revenues from the farm. This
should be a paying Investment for
county, because the farm to serve
its purpose, must produce a profit
and increase in fertility each year.
10 pay for the expert direction of
farms, the next Legislature should
enact a law allowing the Department
Oh Agriculture to use the money de.
rived from the sale Of fertilizer tags
and feed and seed inspection stamps
n excess OF the amount necessary 10
pay for the fertilizer, feed and seed
inspection and incidental expenses.
This fund would pay for expert di.
'ection OF the farms and the College
u Agriculture could provide the agri.
cultural experts from their graduates.
nus opening a field for young men
hat would attract the brightest to
agriculture.
The demonstration farm should he
n connection with the high school
the county and the agriculturist
could teach agriculture in the high
The farmers pay the tax
rom which this fund is derived, and
t should be expended directly for
heir benefit.
The county demonstration farm will
,e a power in the development of
he agriculture of our State. A bill
llong the line s~upgestad will ho a.