The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-17
TENANCY SYSTEM is
SOUTH'S GREAT EVIL
Business Men Attribute Backward State of Southern
Agriculture to Landordsm and
UnScientifc Methods

Numbering in its roster of speakers
such we'll known Southern men of aft
fairs as former Governor Noel of Mis-
sissippi. and General Julian s. Carr.
OF Durham. y. c., the business mems
division Of the Conference for Edu-
cation IN the South devoted two busy
sessions yesterday to an acute ex-
animation of the peculiar farm
problems OF the Southern States
and to a discussion OF remedies for
the ills
With variations that diverged only
FAR enough TO prove the rule the
speakers at both morning aud after
noon sessions charge the economic dis
abilities Of Southern agriculture to un-
scientific farming. TO the reckless use
Of comm ercial fertilizers as a substi-
tute for scientific crop rotation, to the
absence OF an adequate system of rural
credits. and to the prevalent tenant
system, which has sacrificed the vir-
ginal fertility of the soil on the altar
Of highest immediate return.
For the ills just enumerated the
business men had a common remedy
the education OF the Southern farmer
III scientific methods OF agriculture
! through the medium OF the agricultural
schools and colleges and demonstra-
ton work and his emancipation from
tenancy and the greed OF the Mortgage
zen shark by modern system of
rural banking. Once educated to the
dignity and profit OF his calling. it was
| conceded, the farmer will himself solve
most OF the problems which confront
him.
Conference Well Attended
=
senting every Southern state and the
commercial organizations of the lead
ing cities were in attendance Yesterday
morning when General Julian S. Carr,
OF Durham, y. G. called the, meeting
TO order in the auditorium Of the JEFF
! erson Hotel 1t was the first meet
ing or bushes men held in connec-
/ non With ths Conference for Educa-
/ tion in the South. The speakers in
/ Guided. in addition to those from
| southern cities. men from the North
ana west who brought TO the confer
| ence reports Of advanced agricultural
Work In other sections of the coun-
try.
General Carr. opening the conference
. Win an address on general lines, call
ed attention TO the various problems
which confront the south The exodus
from the farm to tho city, he said, must
be stopped by making farm Iii. more
- making the rural community the
scat OF activities on broad lines
To THE end. said the Durham man,
good roads must be constructed to
afford ready gocial intercourse, and the
achool-house must be improved aud
made the centre OF social life The
gradual abolition OF Iandlordism. he
said. Is essential to the best agricul-
tutEl development az is also the de-
veiopment OF an adequate money sup
1 ply available to farmers at a reason-
able rate Of interest
Fertilizers Measure Ignorance.
]. " Newman. Commissioner OF
agriculture Of Kentucky. injected spirit
into the morning session with an ufi :
sparing a!raignnent OF the evils which
he said. follow the reckless use Of com
neTciai fertilizers To this falling he
attributed a large measure Of the bur
den which Southern farmers bear to-
day.
any man that farms with CONNER .
cial fertilizers alone Will land In the
poor house sooner or later" said Mr..
Ncwnan. Ell you VIII add up the sim,
paid annually by Southern farmers for
thig item you Will have an accurate
Tncasure of their Ignorance and the an
nuai waste Of their unakiiled t!llage."
The Southern farmer. he said. de-
| ponds upon fortiiizers az the panacca
/ Tor AL his soil lille. much In the same
manner AZ the man who goes to the
corner drug store for the pill which Is
attributed with power 20 cure all
7 human ailments.
/ Mr. Newman saw no relief from
/ prcL@nt conditions until the farmers OF
! tae South learn. through the expert
neht stations and other agencies. that
nature has provided IN abundance the
fcFt1iizing constituents. that nfhe-
( 'cr;hs n ALL land needs. and that crop
/ rotation and farm nj oduced fnctilizers