Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-03
THE LEVER BILL
Progressive Measure That Promises
Much for Southern Agriculture.

Much for Southern Agriculture.
It is curious that so much Of the
comment, in northern and western
newspapers, on the Lever measure for
agricultural extension work, has indi-
Gated lack Of understanding Of the
attitudes Of the different sections to-
ward better agriculture. 1t is true that
agriculture in some parts Of the north
Is more progressive than in the south.
But the decadence Of farming in many
sections of the north, particularly in
New York and New England, has been
such as to make very plain that other
sections Of the country have their trou-
bles in this regard.
The Lever measure looks to CO opera
tiol. between the states and the nation,
In the great work Of carrying better
farming methods directly to the farm.
That there may be no unjust imposi-
tion on the Federal government, 1t pro-
vides that every dollar Of Federal
money provided for this purpose shall
be matched by another appropriated by
the state. Moreover, the money thus
provided Is to be handled in each state,
through the agricultural colleges which
are maintained jointly by state and ma
tional funds. No state will be able to
draw its allotment Of the national
money until it shall have made provi-
cio,, For. nu,r chara
This plan will make available a fund
with which to put demonstrators Of
modern and scientific farm methods
into the field, to go to the farms and
help the farmers improve their meth
ods. The whole fund Of immensely
valuable information about good farm
improper management Of soils, crop
rotation, handling Of stock, use Of fer
tilizers, and the thousands of other in
tensely practical subjects on which
scientific and practical experimentation
have gathered information-will be
carried right out to the farmer on his
farm. 1t has been found that neither
the publication Of bulletins nor the
work of the farmers Institutes reaches
quite the right spot. Personal touch
and contact is required. An expert
farm demonstration agent to every ru-
raj county, and as many more OF them
as county needs may indicate, is the
ultimate aspiration.
Under the leadership of the late DR..
Seaman A. Knapp, the real beginnings
of this work were undertaken, and the
greatest success was met in the south.
Indeed, thus far the south has been
vastly the most appreciative follower
Of the department of agriculture's pro-
gramme for improvement Of farming.
Perhaps agriculture in the west has
been so firmly established and pros
porous that it has been a bit lofty In
its attitude toward book farming,
while the south has been willing to
recognize frankly that 1t needs to learn
much. At any rate the south has alb
sorbed more than it's share Of the bene-
fits Of department activities.
There is no section that cannot
greatly benefit by adopting the souths
attitude Of -mindedness on these
subjects. Especially is this true Of the
region east Of the Alleghanies and
north Of the Potomac; the country
where, despite proximity to the best
markets and surest demand, agricul-
ture has made the poorest showing In
the last half century. Th. Lever pro-
gramme offers more to th', section, II
the people will but recognize Its pos
sibilities for them, than to any other
Washington Times.